Water and Wood
Water
and
wood
are
two
of
the
more
frequently
mentioned
elements
in
the
Bible.
Water
is
introduced
in
its
second
verse
(Gen.
1:2)
and
last
occurs
five
verses
from
its
end
(Rev.
22:17).
This
importance
of
water
in
the
Bible
is
reflected
in
the
great
variety
of
ways
in
which
it
is
critical
to
life.
Indeed,
it
is
the
only element which life absolutely must have to exist.
Wood
also
figures
prominently
in
both
the
Bible
and
human
life.
Like
water,
it
enters
early
into
the
Biblical
picture
as
trees
(Gen.
1:11;
2:9).
Because
it
is
strong
but
light
and
can
be
easily
gotten,
cut,
and
used,
it
has
been
employed
to heat, cook, build, and shelter.
Yet,
these
two
elements
are
often
associated
with
each
other
like
a
team.
Wherever
fresh,
liquid
water
is
found,
trees
are
also
found.
Indeed,
this
association
with
each
other
and
in
their
important
connection
to
life
is
stressed
when
they
are
finally
brought
together
in
the
references
to
the
“water
of
life”
and
“the tree of life” at the end of the Bible (Rev. 22:17,19).
This
“teamwork”
between
water
and
wood
is
even
evident
in
how
they
offset
one
another’s
disadvantages.
Wood
threatens
life
when
it
becomes
the
fuel
of
unwanted
and
dangerous
fires.
Yet,
its
threat
is
neutralized
by
being
doused
with
water.
Water,
on
the
other
hand,
also
challenges
life
as
a
flood
or
barrier
to
travel.
Wood,
however,
has
helped
people
to
overcome
the
problems
presented by water by such means as wooden boats and bridges.
Yet,
the
roles
of
water
and
wood
interlock
to
meet
human
need
at
two
particularly
interesting
points
—
preservation
and
pliability
—
which
also
serve
as powerful illustrations.
There
is
a
paradox
in
water’s
ability
to
preserve.
In
small
amounts,
it
actually
causes
wood
to
rot.
Therefore,
wood
must
be
kept
dry
—
with
one
major
exception
,
wherein
lies
the
paradox:
while
a
little
water
destroys
wood,
a
lot
of
it,
in
submersion,
preserves
it
.
Indeed,
logs
have
been
preserved
for
hundreds
of
years by being completely submerged in water.
This
is
suggestive
of
the
fact
that
it
is
in
obedience
to
the
condition
of
burial
in
the
water
of
baptism
for
the
forgiveness
of
sins
that
a
person
is
saved,
not
by
the
sprinkling
of
a
little
water
on
the
body
(Acts
2:38;
10:48;
Rom.
6:4;
Eph.
5:26; 1 Pet. 3:21).
Wood
is
also
suggestive
of
another
condition
essential
to
salvation:
pliability
.
Again,
however,
water
must
be
combined
with
it.
Woodworkers
soak
wood
in
water
to
bend
it
into
a
desired
shape
without
breaking
it.
Likewise,
living
trees
have
the
water
content
which
makes
them
supple
enough
to
bend
in
the
wind,
but
once
a
tree
dies,
its
brittle
branches
often
break
off,
and
its
dry
trunk topples, because its lacks the pliability to sway with the wind.
One
cannot
be
“woodenly”
resistant
to
Christ
if
he
wants
to
be
saved.
Baptism
means
he
has
rendered
himself
pliable
to
His
will.
He
must
bend
his
knee
in
obedience,
bow
to
His
desires,
and
fall
under
His
sway,
for
“at
the
name
of Jesus every knee should bow” (Phil. 2:10).
Water
and
wood
also
came
together
in
the
Old
Testament
ritual
prescribed
for
the
leper,
whose
cleansing
called
for
cedar
wood,
scarlet
string,
and
hyssop
to
be
dipped
in
the
blood
of
a
bird
and
running
water.
Afterward,
the
leper
was
to
bathe
his
body
in
water,
and
a
live
bird
was
to
be
set
free
(Lev.
14:1-9).
These
five
elements
—
wood
(Gal.
3:13),
scarlet
(Matt.
27:28),
hyssop
(Jn.
19:29),
blood,
and
water
(vs.
34)
—
merge
once
again
for
cleansing
in
the
wood
of
Jesus’
cross
and
the water of baptism. There, the sinner, like a bird set free, is released from sin.
“…
The
longsuffering
of
God
waited
in
the
days
of
Noah,
while
the
ark
was
a
preparing,
wherein
few,
that
is,
eight
souls
were
saved
by
water.
The
like
figure
whereunto
even
baptism
doth
also
now
save
us
(not
the
putting
away
of
the
filth
of
the
flesh,
but
the
answer
of
a
good
conscience
toward
God,)
by
the
resurrection
of
Jesus”
(1 Peter 3:20,21, KJV).
“…
The
longsuffering
of
God
waited
in
the
days
of
Noah,
while
the
ark
was
a
preparing,
wherein
few,
that
is,
eight
souls
were
saved
by
water.
The
like
figure
whereunto
even
baptism
doth
also
now
save
us
(not
the
putting
away
of
the
filth
of
the
flesh,
but
the
answer
of
a
good
conscience
toward
God,)
by
the
resurrection of Jesus”
(1 Peter 3:20,21, KJV).
Water and Wood
Water
and
wood
are
two
of
the
more
frequently
mentioned
elements
in
the
Bible.
Water
is
introduced
in
its
second
verse
(Gen.
1:2)
and
last
occurs
five
verses
from
its
end
(Rev.
22:17).
This
importance
of
water
in
the
Bible
is
reflected
in
the
great
variety
of
ways
in
which
it
is
critical
to
life.
Indeed,
it
is
the
only
element
which life absolutely must have to exist.
Wood
also
figures
prominently
in
both
the
Bible
and
human
life.
Like
water,
it
enters
early
into
the
Biblical
picture
as
trees
(Gen.
1:11;
2:9).
Because
it
is
strong
but
light
and
can
be
easily
gotten,
cut,
and used, it has been employed to heat, cook, build, and shelter.
Yet,
these
two
elements
are
often
associated
with
each
other
like
a
team.
Wherever
fresh,
liquid
water
is
found,
trees
are
also
found.
Indeed,
this
association
with
each
other
and
in
their
important
connection
to
life
is
stressed
when
they
are
finally
brought
together
in
the
references
to
the
“water
of
life”
and
“the
tree of life” at the end of the Bible (Rev. 22:17,19).
This
“teamwork”
between
water
and
wood
is
even
evident
in
how
they
offset
one
another’s
disadvantages.
Wood
threatens
life
when
it
becomes
the
fuel
of
unwanted
and
dangerous
fires.
Yet,
its
threat
is
neutralized
by
being
doused
with
water.
Water,
on
the
other
hand,
also
challenges
life
as
a
flood
or
barrier
to
travel.
Wood,
however,
has
helped
people
to
overcome
the
problems
presented by water by such means as wooden boats and bridges.
Yet,
the
roles
of
water
and
wood
interlock
to
meet
human
need
at
two
particularly
interesting
points
—
preservation
and
pliability — which also serve as powerful illustrations.
There
is
a
paradox
in
water’s
ability
to
preserve.
In
small
amounts,
it
actually
causes
wood
to
rot.
Therefore,
wood
must
be
kept
dry
—
with
one
major
exception,
wherein
lies
the
paradox:
while
a
little
water
destroys
wood,
a
lot
of
it,
in
submersion,
preserves
it.
Indeed,
logs
have
been
preserved
for
hundreds
of
years by being completely submerged in water.
This
is
suggestive
of
the
fact
that
it
is
in
obedience
to
the
condition
of
burial
in
the
water
of
baptism
for
the
forgiveness
of
sins
that
a
person
is
saved,
not
by
the
sprinkling
of
a
little
water
on
the body (Acts 2:38; 10:48; Rom. 6:4; Eph. 5:26; 1 Pet. 3:21).
Wood
is
also
suggestive
of
another
condition
essential
to
salvation:
pliability.
Again,
however,
water
must
be
combined
with
it.
Woodworkers
soak
wood
in
water
to
bend
it
into
a
desired
shape
without
breaking
it.
Likewise,
living
trees
have
the
water
content
which
makes
them
supple
enough
to
bend
in
the
wind,
but
once
a
tree
dies,
its
brittle
branches
often
break
off,
and
its
dry
trunk topples, because its lacks the pliability to sway with the wind.
One
cannot
be
“woodenly”
resistant
to
Christ
if
he
wants
to
be
saved.
Baptism
means
he
has
rendered
himself
pliable
to
His
will.
He
must
bend
his
knee
in
obedience,
bow
to
His
desires,
and
fall
under
His
sway,
for
“at
the
name
of
Jesus
every
knee
should
bow” (Phil. 2:10).
Water
and
wood
also
came
together
in
the
Old
Testament
ritual
prescribed
for
the
leper,
whose
cleansing
called
for
cedar
wood,
scarlet
string,
and
hyssop
to
be
dipped
in
the
blood
of
a
bird
and
running
water.
Afterward,
the
leper
was
to
bathe
his
body
in
water,
and
a
live
bird
was
to
be
set
free
(Lev.
14:1-9).
These
five
elements
—
wood
(Gal.
3:13),
scarlet
(Matt.
27:28),
hyssop
(Jn.
19:29),
blood,
and
water
(vs.
34)
—
merge
once
again
for
cleansing
in
the
wood
of
Jesus’
cross
and
the
water
of
baptism.
There,
the
sinner, like a bird set free, is released from sin.
