My day job has me writing a lot of blog posts about the importance of water. Wouldn’t you know it, the bible passages I read the other night were about exactly that.
19 The citizens said to Elisha, “ As you can see, sir, this city is in a good location, but the water is bad, and the land causes miscarriages. ”
20 He said, “ Bring me a new bowl, and put some salt in it. ” They did so. 21 Elisha then went out and threw salt into the spring. He said, “ This is what the LORD has said: I have purified this water. It will no longer cause death and miscarriage. ” 22 The water has stayed pure right up to this very day, in agreement with the word that Elisha spoke. –2 Kings 2: 19-21
Some context: This is after God takes Elijah “up to heaven in a windstorm,” and it’s the first thing that Elisha does after taking over Elijah’s spot as the “man of God.” Elisha’s first miracle is improving water quality!
And then right in the next chapter:
9 So Israel’s and Judah’s kings set out with the king of Edom. They marched around for seven days until there was no water left for the army or for the animals with them. 10 Israel’s king said, “ This is terrible! Has the LORD brought us three kings together only to hand us over to Moab? ”
16 He said, “ This is what the LORD says: This valley will be filled with pools.d17 This is what the LORD says: You won’t see any wind or rain, but that valley will be full of water. Then you’ll be able to drink—you, your cattle, and your animals. 18 This is easy for the LORD to do. He will also hand Moab over to you. 19 You will then attack every fort and every grand city, cutting down all the good trees, stopping up all the springs, and ruining the good fields with stones. ”
20 The next morning, at the time to offer the grain offering, water came flowing from the direction of Edom. The land filled up with water. – 2 Kings 3: 9, 16-20
God addresses a water supply issue! Of course, perhaps the these kings should have planned better before they set out so as not to run out of water, but perhaps they were too busy trying to settle their trade dispute.
Anyway, the simple point being, 1) water is extremely important, and protecting both the quality of it and the supply are important enough to be mentioned in the form of miracles in the bible; and, 2) it is always strange what does and doesn’t get pulled out of the Bible to serve people’s causes. But then, the question becomes, in stories like these where people rely on God to solve their natural resource problems, do they send the wrong message about resource protection and restoration?
ohthatswhatitsays 