Rivers in the desert

In many parts of the world, there are irrigation projects, where water from a river is diverted into desert regions. This often results in a flourishing growth, of crops, or fruit trees, or other kinds of vegetation, in the irrigated land.

Several scriptures describe something similar to this, where the waters are not literal waters, but spiritual, or figurative, and they are called "living waters," because they represent the gospel, and its spiritual effects on people. Zechariah wrote:

Zechariah 14:8
And it shall be in that day, that living waters shall go out from Jerusalem; half of them toward the former sea, and half of them toward the hinder sea: in summer and in winter shall it be.

The city of Jerusalem is located on a hill, and there is a ridge of hills on the east. But "living waters" are not confined to valleys. The phrase "rivers of living water" was mentioned by Jesus.

John 7:38
He that believeth on me, as the scripture hath said, out of his belly shall flow rivers of living water.

The "living water" refers to the understanding of God's word, that comes from the Spirit of Christ, and ultimately leads us to inherit eternal life. The word of God is the scriptures. Paul said Christ is sanctifying and cleansing his Church "with the washing of water by the word." [Ephesians 5:26]

The "Jerusalem" that Zechariah's prophecy refers to is the Church, the holy city. The prophecy says that living waters will flow towards the wilderness that lies east of Jerusalem, as well as towards the west; the wilderness or desert is symbolic, as are the rivers, the waters, and the city itself.

The prophet Isaiah wrote of waters flowing in rivers in the desert for God's people.

Isaiah 43:19-20
Behold, I will do a new thing; now it shall spring forth; shall ye not know it? I will even make a way in the wilderness, and rivers in the desert.
The beast of the field shall honour me, the dragons and the owls: because I give waters in the wilderness, and rivers in the desert, to give drink to my people, my chosen.

The people Isaiah refers to are called "my chosen," and in the NT, it is those who believe the gospel, and who are in the Church, who are called "chosen." In the NT, unbelieving Jews are never called "chosen." The term is always used for God's Church, and those who are in it. And the Jews are not wandering in the wilderness, like their ancestors did under Moses.

Paul said the experience of the Israelites in the wilderness after the exodus was an example for the Church. He wrote, "Now these things were our examples, to the intent we should not lust after evil things, as they also lusted." [1 Corinthians 10:6]

The food the Israelites ate, called manna, he called spiritual meat, which is symbolic of the teaching all Christians have available to them in the scriptures. They all drank the same "spiritual drink," pictured by the water that flowed from the rock, which Paul says pictures Christ, the source of living water, and the Spirit of God.

In Revelation 12:6, the woman, who represents the Church, flees to the wilderness. The wilderness pictures the period of trial, after being set free from the world, and the bondage of sin, to entering our promised "rest." In every generation, the people of God have to be freed from the world, and bondage to sin, that is pictured by the woman's escape to the wilderness.

The prophet Joel said water will flow from the temple, which also represents the Church. It flows to the wilderness. The literal temple was located in Jerusalem, and yet Joel said the water from it flows towards the wilderness. And he identifies the wilderness as the one on the east side of the Jordan!

Joel 3:18
And it shall come to pass in that day, that the mountains shall drop down new wine, and the hills shall flow with milk, and all the rivers of Judah shall flow with waters, and a fountain shall come forth out of the house of the LORD, and shall water the valley of Shittim.

The valley of Shittim was located in the wilderness, east of Jerico. It was the last place where the Israelites camped, before entering the Holy Land. Joel pictures water flowing from God's temple in Jerusalem, towards the east, across the Geat Rift Valley and the Jordan River, to the desert that lies east of the Jordan. Spiritual waters do not have to follow literal valleys!

Isaiah's prophecy also must refer to rivers of spiritual "waters" that God provides for his people.