Written
by Uyoyou Christiana Charles-Iyoha
Polluted
streams do not bring healing to the people around the stream, the struggling,
or tired or weary or thirsty traveler in need of a refreshing cup of water or
dip in the water. Polluted streams are sources of barrenness, unproductivity,
sickness and death as in the case of the polluted waters of Jericho described
in 2nd Kings Chapter 2 verses 19 to 21. Rather than bless the people
of the land, the polluted waters of Jericho poisoned and harmed the people of
the land. It made the land unproductive or barren and consequently death in the
land. Ideally, water should give life but when that water brings about what
does not give life, then there is a problem.
On
the journey from Egypt to the Promised Land, the Israelites got to Marah after
searching for water to drink endlessly for three consecutive days in the
wilderness. Unfortunately the waters of Marah were polluted, were bitter and
undrinkable. At this point, the people could take it no more so they complained
against Moses. Moses’s response is very significant. He cried out to God and
God showed him a tree which he cast into the waters. The Bible records that the
waters were made sweet thereafter and the people were able to drink from it.
Beloved,
every polluted stream/water body requires divine touches and healings from the
Lord to become healing streams that bring God’s healing, life, refreshment and
transformation to the people of God. The waters of Jericho became healed by the
Lord after Elisha cast in the salt at the source of the water.
