The River of Life

A River from God's House

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Jesus said that rivers of living water would flow from everyone who believes in Him, “as the Scripture has said” (John 7:38). The Bible tells about God's river from its first pages to its last.

A river in Eden. “Now a river went out of Eden to water the garden” (Genesis 2:10). From the very beginning, God gave water that brought life.

A river for God's city. One psalm sings about a river whose streams make the city of God glad (Psalm 46:4). Jerusalem has no big river, so the psalm is singing about the joy God Himself gives His people.

Ezekiel's vision. God gave the prophet Ezekiel a vision. He saw water flowing out from under the door of God's temple (Ezekiel 47:1).

Ankle deep. A man in the vision measured the water as Ezekiel walked into it. First the water came up to his ankles (Ezekiel 47:3).

Deeper and deeper. Then it came to his knees, then to his waist. At last it was a river too deep to walk across. He would have had to swim (Ezekiel 47:4-5).

Into the desert. The river flowed down through dry land into the sea, and the salty water was made fresh (Ezekiel 47:8).

Streams in the desert. Isaiah also promised, “For waters shall burst forth in the wilderness, And streams in the desert” (Isaiah 35:6). God brings life to dry places.

Living water from Jerusalem. Zechariah said that one day living waters would flow out from Jerusalem, in summer and in winter (Zechariah 14:8).

What Jesus meant. Many Christians see these rivers in Jesus' words at the feast. John tells us that Jesus was speaking about the Holy Spirit (John 7:39).

A river that grows. In a desert, streams usually shrink and dry up as they flow. God's river did the opposite. The farther it went, the deeper it got.

What we learn. God is the source of life. His river always starts with Him, and it keeps getting bigger as it flows.

What to do. Read Ezekiel 47:1-12 with your family this week. Draw the river getting deeper, from ankles to knees to waist to swimming.

When Jesus said “as the Scripture has said” (John 7:38), He was pointing His listeners to a picture that runs through the whole Bible: a river that comes from God and brings life.

Eden (Genesis 2:10). “Now a river went out of Eden to water the garden, and from there it parted and became four riverheads.” The first home God made for people had a river at its center.

The city of God (Psalm 46:4). The psalm speaks of a river whose streams make glad the city of God. Jerusalem had springs but no great river, so the river is God's own presence and care for His people.

From the temple (Ezekiel 47:1-2). Ezekiel saw water coming out from under the threshold of the temple, flowing past the altar on the south side. God's river starts where God lives with His people.

Deeper and deeper (47:3-5). Every thousand cubits, about a third of a mile, the water rose: ankles, knees, waist, and then a river that could not be crossed. Many Christians see this as a picture of how life with God's Spirit is meant to keep going deeper.

Nachal. The Hebrew word for river in 47:5 is nachal (say: nah-KHAHL). It often means a stream in a valley, the kind that is dry much of the year. In Ezekiel's vision a dry valley becomes a river too deep to cross.

Down to the sea (47:8). The river flowed east through the desert valley and into the sea, and its waters were healed. A place known for salt and death would be made fresh.

Zechariah 14:8. Zechariah also foresaw living waters flowing out from Jerusalem toward the eastern and western seas, in summer and in winter, a river that never dries up.

The river in Jesus' words. At the feast in Jerusalem, Jesus said the river would flow out of the heart of every believer. John explains that He meant the Spirit (7:39). In Ezekiel's vision the river flowed from God's house. Jesus said it would flow from people in whom God lives.

A vision of hope. God gave Ezekiel this vision while His people were captives in Babylon and the temple in Jerusalem was in ruins (Ezekiel 40:1). God showed him a new temple with a river of life flowing from it, a promise that He would live with His people again.

Application. Ask yourself how deep you have gone with God. Ankle-deep faith stays in control. Deep faith lets the river carry you. Ask the Holy Spirit to take you deeper into trusting Jesus this week.

Everything Will Live

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In Ezekiel's vision, the river did not just get deeper. Everywhere it went, things came to life.

Everything will live. Ezekiel was told that wherever the river went, living creatures would live, and there would be very many fish (Ezekiel 47:9).

Fishermen on the shore. Fishermen would stand along the shore and spread their nets to dry (Ezekiel 47:10). A sea where almost nothing could live would be full of fish.

Trees on both banks. Fruit trees grew on both sides of the river. Their leaves would not wither, and they would bear fresh fruit every month. The leaves would be used for medicine (Ezekiel 47:12).

The last river. In the Bible's last chapter, John saw a river of the water of life, clear as crystal, flowing from the throne of God and of the Lamb (Revelation 22:1).

Water for the thirsty. God says He will give from the spring of the water of life freely to anyone who is thirsty (Revelation 21:6). It is the same invitation Jesus gave at the feast.

Nothing broken. In God's new creation nothing will be sick or broken, and the river of life never runs dry.

From the Lamb. The river flows from the throne of God and of the Lamb. The Lamb is Jesus, who died for our sins and rose again. All of the life in God's river comes through Him.

Rivers from you. Jesus said these rivers would flow out of the heart of everyone who believes in Him (John 7:38). The Holy Spirit's life does not stop with you. It flows on to others.

Like a spring. God promised that His people would be like a watered garden, and like a spring whose waters never fail (Isaiah 58:11).

Where the river goes. When the Spirit is at work in you, kindness, patience and the good news about Jesus flow out to the people around you.

Down the middle of the street. In John's vision the river flows through the middle of the city's street (Revelation 22:1). Everyone in God's city lives close to the river of life.

What we learn. God's river brings life wherever it goes, and one day it will flow through a world with no more sickness or death.

What to do. Think of one person who seems sad or lonely. Ask the Holy Spirit to let His love flow through you to that person this week.

In Ezekiel's vision the river did more than grow deeper. Everything it touched came alive.

Everything will live (47:9). Wherever the river went, living creatures would live, and there would be a very great multitude of fish. The river reverses death.

Nets on the shore (47:10). Fishermen would stand from En Gedi to En Eglaim, spreading their nets. Places that had been empty would be busy with life and work.

Healing leaves (47:12). Trees on both banks would bear fruit every month, because their water flowed from the sanctuary, the place of God's presence. Their leaves would be for medicine. Life, food and healing all flow from the place where God lives.

Revelation 21:6 and 22:1. The Bible's last chapter shows a river of the water of life flowing from the throne of God and of the Lamb (Revelation 22:1). Just before, God promises to give from the spring of the water of life freely to anyone who thirsts (Revelation 21:6). It is the same invitation Jesus shouted at the feast.

From the throne and from the Lamb. The river comes from God and from the Lamb who was slain. Life flows to people because Jesus died for sin and rose. There is no river of life without the cross.

Through believers (John 7:38-39). Jesus said the rivers would flow out of believers' hearts, and John says He meant the Spirit. The temple river of Ezekiel becomes a picture of what the Spirit does through ordinary people in whom God lives.

A spring that does not fail (Isaiah 58:11). God promised His people they would be like a watered garden and a spring whose waters never fail. A believer is not the source; he is a channel for God's life.

Marshes left for salt (47:11). Ezekiel was told that the swamps and marshes would not be healed, but left for salt. Many Christians see a warning here: life comes only where God's water reaches.

Application. Rivers do not keep their water. Ask where the Spirit's life is meant to flow through you this week: a lonely classmate, a tired parent, a friend who needs to hear about Jesus. Then let it flow.

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