Help, I can’t swim
Isaiah 43:2 When thou passest through the waters, I will be with thee; and through the rivers, they shall not overflow thee: when thou walkest through the fire, thou shalt not be burned; neither shall the flame kindle upon thee. 3 For I am the LORD thy God, the Holy One of Israel, thy Saviour:
Several years ago some friends and I would go fishing in the Yadkin River. There were 4 of us and we took 2 flat bottom aluminum boats. One friend of mine had a motor on his but, mine didn’t have an engine. We would go after the sun went down and anchor upstream from the rough water. We then could cast our fishing rods downstream and always caught cat fish. This time it was dark and the only way to tell how close we were to those rough shoals was to listen for the water as it ran swiftly over those rocks. As you might have guessed I got my boat to close to those rough waters and we took off like a speed boat down the river in the dark. My friend that was with me was kind of a nervous guy anyway and began to yell to the top of his lungs, “I can’t swim and I’m going to die...help, help!” Our friends in the other boat had his engine running and trying to throw us a line but failed. So, being much younger than I am today I stepped out of the boat thinking I could recue my buddy by dragging him to safety. I stepped out of the boat and the water was only about 3 feet deep. My friend was still padding with an ore throwing water about 10 feet high and barely missing my head with each stroke as I held on to the boat until our friends in the other boat threw us a line. To this day when I see one of those friends we still have a big laugh.
God says when we pass through the waters He will be with us and the rivers shall not over flow us. When we walk through a fire we will not be burned. Sometimes when God allows those things to happen to us and we cry out...I just can’t make it...I’m going to drown in this darkness I’m in! Can I get an amen?
I’ve been there many times over the years and God has always thrown me a life line. But, do I always look to God for a life preserver or life line? Well......no not every time, I’m ashamed to say.
We all have been through deep water as in trials, troubles, sickness or death of a love one. Many times it seems our feet don’t touch the bottom but, God says, it shall not overflow thee.
Also sometimes we think we are in deep water and we are going to drown but when we step out on faith in our Lord Jesus we find the water is only 2 feet deep.
In our verses today in Isaiah chapter 43 God is speaking to Israel but, it applies to all of His children. God delivered Israel in the past when they crossed Red Sea and the Jordan River. I believe many times we cross those dangerous rivers of life without even knowing it. I believe God parts the water, straightens the paths and sometimes defeats the enemy without us even knowing it.
Most of all God says in verse 3 For I am the LORD thy God, the Holy One of Israel, thy Saviour. Our God not only saves us from death here on earth through the storms, waters and rampage of life. He saved us from the eternal death by becoming a man named Jesus who clothed Himself with flesh to die for those who would put their trust in Him. How about you? Can you say the Lord is thy Saviour?
Love in Christ Jesus, Ronnie Miller www.themillersbiblestudy.com
