Standing Water

In scriptural passages, references to water are varied and interesting. They run the gamut from chaos to divine spirit. Water can be filthy and destructive, as the waters Lehi and Nephi saw in vision portraying the "depths of hell" (see 1 Nephi 12:16). Or water can become a " well . . . springing up into everlasting life" (John 4:14).

Chaotic Creation

In scriptural creation accounts, water represents unorganized, chaotic element. In the first Biblical chapter, "the Spirit of God moved upon the face of the waters" (Genesis 1:2). Here, the Spirit of God has a taming effect on uncontrolled waters. In the absence of Deity's command, water runs, rolls, surges, and then retreats. On a flat surface it will run until evaporation, and always runs to the lowest point. Contrast this with Lehi's exhortation to his son, Lemuel:

"O that thou mightest be like unto this valley, firm and steadfast, and immovable in keeping the commandments of the Lord!" (1 Nephi 2:10).

Unstable As Water

When Jacob gives patriarchal blessings to his sons, he speaks to Reuben by saying,

"Unstable as water, thou shalt not excel; because thou wentest up to thy father’s bed; then defiledst thou it: he went up to my couch" (Genesis 49:4).

The simple truth exists: water won't stand up in the presence of God. Water is wishy-washy, indecisive, and changes its course of direction.

Wimpy Water

In the Book of Joshua, Israel is defeated by the people of Ai. The account says, "And the men of Ai smote of them about thirty and six men: for they chased them from before the gate even unto Shebarim, and smote them in the going down: wherefore the hearts of the people melted, and became as water" (Joshua 7:5).

While the Savior's sacrifice was anything but wimpy, when He had exhausted everything, the Messianic prophecy correctly claims, "I am poured out like water, and all my bones are out of joint: my heart is like wax; it is melted in the midst of my bowels" (Psalm 22:14).

Stature of the Fullness of Christ

While speaking of our Savior, He can be contrasted to unstable water. Paul speaks of the perfecting of the saints by saying:

"Till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ" (Ephesians 4:13).

Unlike unstable water, Jesus always stood firm in the face of adversity. In the Gospel of John, Jesus doesn't need Judas to identify Him. He boldly asks, "Whom seek ye?" After they answer Him and say they are seeking Jesus of Nazareth, He boldly identifies Himself three times by saying, "I am he." Actually, in the Greek text there is no "he," so He is boldly saying, "I am," fulfilling the Mosaic prophecy that His name is "I AM" (Exodus 3:14). The chief priests, Pharisees, and temple guards then begin to act like water, and "they went backward, and fell to the ground" (see John 18:3-8). The simple fact remains: they can't stand in the presence of the Lord.

No wonder Nephi says:

"And it came to pass that I, Nephi, being exceedingly young, nevertheless being large in stature, and also having great desires to know of the mysteries of God, wherefore, I did cry unto the Lord; and behold he did visit me, and did soften my heart that I did believe all the words which had been spoken by my father; wherefore, I did not rebel against him like unto my brothers" (1 Nephi 2:16).

And it's no wonder President Gordon B. Hinckley wrote a book entitled, Stand A Little Taller. Stature and standing tall in the presence of God is important.

Will Water Stand the Test?

Water actually does stand up on two occasions. When the children of Israel passed through the Red Sea, they "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" (Exodus 14:22).

And when the Israelites crossed over at Bethabara (meaning "house of ford") into the promised land, they had to pass through dangerous waters overflowing its banks. The scripture records:

"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" (Joshua 3:16).

Again, the waters stood up and the people passed over.

So, in conclusion, water really can stand up in the presence of God when commanded.

And so should we!