Topical Bible: The Sea: God: Dries Up, by his Rebuke

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The imagery of God drying up the sea by His rebuke is a powerful testament to His supreme authority and might over creation. This theme is woven throughout the Scriptures, illustrating God's ability to control and command the natural world according to His divine will.

Biblical References:

1. Psalm 106:9 : "He rebuked the Red Sea, and it dried up; He led them through the depths as through a desert." This verse recounts the miraculous event during the Exodus when God parted the Red Sea, allowing the Israelites to escape from the pursuing Egyptian army. By His rebuke, the waters were divided, demonstrating His power to alter the natural order for the deliverance of His people.

2. Nahum 1:4 : "He rebukes the sea and dries it up; He makes all the rivers run dry. Bashan and Carmel wither; even the flower of Lebanon withers." Here, the prophet Nahum speaks of God's judgment and His ability to dry up the sea and rivers, symbolizing His control over nature and His capacity to bring about desolation as a form of divine retribution.

3. Isaiah 50:2 : "Why was no one there when I came? Why did no one answer when I called? Is My hand too short to redeem? Or do I lack the strength to deliver? Behold, by My rebuke I dry up the sea; I turn rivers into a desert; their fish rot for lack of water and die of thirst." In this passage, God asserts His power to redeem and deliver, using the drying up of the sea as a metaphor for His ability to overcome any obstacle and execute His will.

Theological Significance:

The act of God drying up the sea by His rebuke serves as a profound symbol of His sovereignty and omnipotence. It underscores the belief that God is not only the Creator but also the Sustainer and Ruler of the universe. His word alone is sufficient to command the elements, reflecting His ultimate authority over all creation.

This theme also highlights God's role as a deliverer and protector of His people. The drying up of the sea during the Exodus is a pivotal moment in Israel's history, representing God's intervention and salvation. It serves as a reminder of His faithfulness and His ability to provide a way of escape in seemingly impossible situations.

Furthermore, the imagery of God rebuking the sea and drying it up is often associated with His judgment. It conveys the message that God can bring about both blessing and desolation, depending on His divine purpose and the response of humanity to His call.

In summary, the concept of God drying up the sea by His rebuke is a multifaceted theme that reveals His power, authority, and involvement in the world. It is a testament to His ability to control nature, deliver His people, and execute judgment, all according to His sovereign will.

Torrey's Topical Textbook

Isaiah 50:2
Why, when I came, was there no man? when I called, was there none to answer? Is my hand shortened at all, that it cannot redeem? or have I no power to deliver? behold, at my rebuke I dry up the sea, I make the rivers a wilderness: their fish stinks, because there is no water, and dies for thirst.
Torrey's Topical Textbook

Nahum 1:4
He rebukes the sea, and makes it dry, and dries up all the rivers: Bashan languishes, and Carmel, and the flower of Lebanon languishes.
Torrey's Topical Textbook

Library

The Joint Heirs and their Divine Portion
... Dries he sit upon a throne ... earth as hers, and send her heralds forth from sea to
sea to bid ... God's power will be with her heralds, God's might shall be with her ...
/.../spurgeon/spurgeons sermons volume 7 1861/the joint heirs and their.htm

The Marvels of Holy Scripture, --Moral and Physical. --Jael's Deed ...
... God must believe that He is." The heart dries up, and the ... Truly that must be from
God which can so change the ... and in Africa, and in the Islands of the Sea. ...
/.../burgon/inspiration and interpretation/sermon vii the marvels of.htm

Expiation
... See how fever parches his tongue, and dries his whole body like ... yet fetch you up
from the depths of the sea. ... message may be made effective in the hand of God. ...
/...//christianbookshelf.org/spurgeon/spurgeons sermons volume 10 1864/expiation.htm

Election and Ordination of Bishops: Form of Service on Sundays.
... his voluntary evil disposition; whose look dries the abysses ... His feet; who walkest
upon the sea as upon ... firm ground; [3611] Thou only begotten God, [3612] the ...
/.../constitutions of the holy apostles/sec ii election and ordination of.htm

The Christ of the Gospels. By Rev. Professor Schaff.
... his playmates, strikes terror round about him, dries up a stream ... Jordan and the shores
of the Galilean Sea, at the ... and mission; as the Messiah of God, yet by ...
/.../the christ of the gospels.htm

The Tabernacle of the Most High
... art thou?" Devoutly he looks across the sea, and beholds ... not to declare the whole
counsel of God, zealous of ... of the "Baptist Register," he kept up an extensive ...
/.../spurgeon/spurgeons sermons volume 5 1859/the tabernacle of the most.htm

'Time for Thee to Work'
... their walls round some fair island of the Southern Sea. ... deeper well that has been
sunk dries the surface ... the practices and theories which contradicted God's law ...
/.../maclaren/expositions of holy scripture j/time for thee to work.htm

A Canticle of Love
... Just as a torrent carries into the depths of the sea all that it ... of His Love." Therese
was a soul most dear to God, and He was about to fill up the measure ...
/...//christianbookshelf.org/martin/the story of a soul/chapter xi a canticle of.htm