The first part of Nahum 1:4 reads “He rebuketh the sea, and maketh it dry, and drieth up all the rivers.”
During the time of the exodus of the Israelites from Egypt, the people of God found themselves caught in between a pursuing army of the Egyptians and the Red sea, which at that time would have seemed like a watery grave. The people started to murmur against God’s, servant, Moses, who was leading the Israelites out of the land of physical bondage (Egypt) to the land God had promised them, and in that manner, provoked God (Psalm 106:7). Moses assured the people that God’s would show forth his salvation and that they had nothing to fear about (Exodus 14:13). All that the people needed to do was to stand still (Psalm 46:10) and they would no longer have to face their enemies anymore after God saves them (Exodus 14:13). God told Moses to lift his his rod and stretch out his hand over the sea, and divide it and the children of Israel shall go on dry ground through the midst of the sea (Exodus 14:16). True to his word of deliverance, God saved the people for his name’s sake and so that his mighty power is known and rebuked the Read sea and it dried up, so that he could led the people of God through the depths (Psalm 106:8-9). At the blast of the breath of his nostrils, the channels (bed) of waters were seen, and the foundations of the world were discovered at the rebuke of the Lord (Psalm 18:15). God split the Red sea and made it dry and when the enemy army pursued the people of God, God turned back the waters on them so that the enemies of his people would drown and be no more (as per he promised). The people that saw the great work which the Lord did (upon their enemies – the Egyptians) and feared the Lord and believed the Lord (Exodus 14:31).
In another instance, as the feet of the priests who bore the ark of the Lord dipped in the water of the Jordan river, the water which overflows all the banks of the river parted and the priests stood firm on dry ground in the midst of the Jordan, and all the Israelites passed over on dry ground (Joshua 3:15-17). This was to show that the living God was among the people of God (Joshua 3:10) and that he does wonders (Joshua 3:5). Once again, the Bible records that the Jordan river parted when God’s servants Elijah and Elisha had to cross over. Elijah smote the waters of the river with his mantle and the river parted and they crossed over on dry ground. Now after Elijah was taken up, in a whirlwind into heaven, in a chariot of fire drawn by horses of fire, Elisha returns to the Jordan bank, and questioned, “Where is the God of Elijah?” and smote the Jordan river with the mantle of Elijah that had fallen when he was taken up. Elisha smote the river with the mantle just as Elijah had done and the river parted and allowed Elisha to cross over (2 Kings 2).
Points to ponder:
God is indeed a Wonder working Great God (Psalm 86:10). His name is Wonderful (Isaiah 9:6) and he is full of wonders. He can make his people walk through dry ground amidst walls of water. He asks “Is my had shortened at all, that it cannot redeem? or have I no power to deliver? and asserts “behold, at my rebuke, the sea dries up and the rivers become a wilderness (Isaiah 50:2). When we are faced with tough situations and when things seems like there is no way to go through the seas of troubles we face, we can rely on a God who divided water from water, who can separate the issues that trouble us and make us pass through on a dry and solid foundation. He is a God who rebukes our troubles away for his name’s sake so that people would known his mighty power and believe in him. Do you believe in this wonder working mighty God? His name is Jesus Christ and when he rebuked the storm on the seas, peace set in and prevailed. No matter what your troubles and burdens are, believe in Jesus, who is the Salvation of the Lord, and cast your cares on him and the peace that passeth all understanding shall fill your heart and you shall walk on dry ground amidst the walls of your troubles.
Nahum 1:4 (KJV)
4 He rebuketh the sea, and maketh it dry, and drieth up all the rivers: Bashan languisheth, and Carmel, and the flower of Lebanon languisheth.
Exodus 14:13,21-22,29-31 (KJV)
13 And Moses said unto the people, Fear ye not, stand still, and see the salvation of the Lord, which he will shew to you to day: for the Egyptians whom ye have seen to day, ye shall see them again no more for ever.
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21 And Moses stretched out his hand over the sea; and the Lord caused the sea to go back by a strong east wind all that night, and made the sea dry land, and the waters were divided.
22 And the children of Israel went into the midst of the sea upon the dry ground: and the waters were a wall unto them on their right hand, and on their left.
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29 But the children of Israel walked upon dry land in the midst of the sea; and the waters were a wall unto them on their right hand, and on their left.
30 Thus the Lord saved Israel that day out of the hand of the Egyptians; and Israel saw the Egyptians dead upon the sea shore.
31 And Israel saw that great work which the Lord did upon the Egyptians: and the people feared the Lord, and believed the Lord, and his servant Moses.
Joshua 3:15-17 (KJV)
15 And as they that bare the ark were come unto Jordan, and the feet of the priests that bare the ark were dipped in the brim of the water, (for Jordan overfloweth all his banks all the time of harvest,)
16 That the waters which came down from above stood and rose up upon an heap very far from the city Adam, that is beside Zaretan: and those that came down toward the sea of the plain, even the salt sea, failed, and were cut off: and the people passed over right against Jericho.
17 And the priests that bare the ark of the covenant of the Lord stood firm on dry ground in the midst of Jordan, and all the Israelites passed over on dry ground, until all the people were passed clean over Jordan.
2 Kings 2:8, 13-14
8 And Elijah took his mantle, and wrapped it together, and smote the waters, and they were divided hither and thither, so that they two went over on dry ground.
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13 He took up also the mantle of Elijah that fell from him, and went back, and stood by the bank of Jordan;
14 And he took the mantle of Elijah that fell from him, and smote the waters, and said, Where is the Lord God of Elijah? and when he also had smitten the waters, they parted hither and thither: and Elisha went over.
