Topical Bible: Water: Wearing the Hardest Substances

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Water, a fundamental element in the biblical narrative, is often depicted as a symbol of life, purification, and divine provision. However, its persistent and transformative power is also acknowledged in Scripture, illustrating its ability to wear down even the hardest substances over time. This concept is emblematic of the enduring and sometimes subtle influence of God's will and the transformative power of His Word.

In the Book of Job, the relentless nature of water is poetically described: "As water wears away stones and torrents wash away the soil, so You destroy a man's hope" (Job 14:19). Here, water serves as a metaphor for the inexorable passage of time and the trials that erode human strength and resolve. The imagery of water wearing away stones underscores the idea that even the most resilient and seemingly unchangeable elements are subject to transformation under the persistent force of water.

The power of water to effect change is further illustrated in the natural world, where it carves out canyons, smooths rough edges, and reshapes landscapes. This natural process is reflective of spiritual truths found in Scripture. Just as water gradually transforms the physical world, the Word of God, often likened to water, has the power to transform the human heart. In Ephesians 5:26, the Apostle Paul speaks of Christ sanctifying the church, "cleansing her by the washing with water through the word" . This passage highlights the purifying and renewing power of God's Word, which, like water, can penetrate and reshape even the hardest of hearts.

The persistent nature of water is also a reminder of God's enduring presence and His ability to bring about change in His creation. In Isaiah 55:10-11, the prophet compares God's Word to rain and snow that water the earth, causing it to bud and flourish. "So My word that proceeds from My mouth will not return to Me empty, but it will accomplish what I please, and it will prosper where I send it" . This passage emphasizes the certainty and effectiveness of God's Word, much like the certainty of water's ability to wear down the hardest substances over time.

In the New Testament, Jesus Himself is described as the living water, offering eternal life to those who believe in Him. In John 4:14, Jesus tells the Samaritan woman at the well, "But whoever drinks the water I give him will never thirst. Indeed, the water I give him will become in him a fount of water springing up to eternal life" . This living water, representing the Holy Spirit, has the power to transform lives, providing spiritual sustenance and renewal.

Throughout Scripture, water is a powerful symbol of God's ability to effect change, both in the natural world and in the spiritual realm. Its capacity to wear down the hardest substances serves as a reminder of the transformative power of God's Word and His enduring presence in the lives of believers.

Torrey's Topical Textbook

Job 14:19
The waters wear the stones: you wash away the things which grow out of the dust of the earth; and you destroy the hope of man.
Torrey's Topical Textbook

Library

the Legendary History of Egypt
... With reference to the substances which proceeded ... inundation; born of the mud and
putrid water of the ... his double, represented as two children wearing the side ...
/.../chapter iii -the legendary history of.htm