Mom drug a sleeve across her forehead. Sweat dripped as she cooked. Everyone loved the Feast of Tabernacles—seven days of camping in shelters made of poles and branches. But this year it was so hot. Fall began last month, but summer ruled the dusty valley. The dry season was longer this year. Six months they’d gone without rain. Dust covered your hair, your eyes, your food. Nothing ruined a meal faster than grinding your teeth on sand.
All week her children had whined about carrying water. When they cried, tears made clean little lines down their cheeks. Rivulets. Mama stopped cooking to take the baby into the shade under the shelter of branches. The kids had been so thirsty, the family never had enough water to get through the night. Naturally, Mom did without.
At the trumpet blast, everyone assembled to observe the priest. Day seven concerned water: for 40 years, Moses struggled to find water in the wilderness. Mom tried to explain to her oldest that the words of Joel were connected to this ritual, that just as God would pour out rain ending the drought, God would also pour out His Holy Spirit:
“The pouring of water and of God’s Spirit—it’s the same pouring,” she said. “Joel said, ‘After this, I will pour out My Spirit on all mankind. And your sons and your daughters will prophecy, your old men will dream dreams, and your young men will see visions.’” [Joel 2:28.]
When the priest prayed for water, Mom joined him. When he finished, the air was windless. Silent. A dead calm, every flag and banner limp, unmoving. A sense of choking, dry thirst hung in the air, its weight a burden on the people.
Suddenly the man Jesus stood and spoke, His echoing voice commanding attention:
“If anyone is thirsty, come to Me and drink! The one who believes in Me, as the scripture says, will have STREAMS OF LIVING WATER FLOW FROM DEEP WITHIN HIM.” [John 7:37-39.]
Something clicked and suddenly Mom understood—Jesus would fill her with a stream of water that would never run out—the water of God’s Spirit.
Have you felt those streams? Jesus is LIVING WATER. When you spend time with Him, you are HYDRATED, WASHED, and FILLED from the inside-out.
God, fill us with Your living water so it overflows and blesses those around us.
ΑΩ
Household Words: 