As The Waters Cover The Sea

Peter L. Meney | Added: Apr 02, 2023 | Category: Editorial

It is a beautiful and powerful image which God the Holy Spirit supplies to His church when He tells us, ‘the earth shall be full of the knowledge of the LORD, as the waters cover the sea’ (Isaiah 11:9). Who has not stood beside of the ocean and marvelled at the majesty and magnificence of its power? Its breadth, depth, volume, ceaseless tides and crashing energy humbles our mind. 

Both Isaiah and Habakkuk employ this maritime imagery as though to emphasise by repetition the Lord’s promise; ‘the earth shall be full of the knowledge of the LORD’. We call our earth ‘the blue planet’ because of the extensiveness of the oceans and seas. God’s prophets are telling us that just as extensive as the oceans of the world shall be the knowledge of God’s glory to His people. Seven hundred years before the birth of Christ, God’s prophets set down this truth.

Our Message to the World

Isaiah speaks often of the last days and the apostles tell us these days are the last days. Accordingly, there has never been a time when the truth of the prophets’ words could be more easily demonstrated. Communication has never been easier nor information more widely available. There has never before been a time when the gospel of grace and the glorious message of God’s salvation has been more globally available. 

As the message goes forth we may wonder if people are listening, but that’s God’s business. For our part we eagerly seek an audience knowing the Lord has promised to save sinners by the preaching of the gospel and the hearing of faith. While technology has vastly increased ‘noise’ in the world the fact remains, there has never been a time of greater access to the message of Jesus Christ. The words of the prophets have been fulfilled in a very real way. 

Our Promise of Success

Our gospel is the power of God unto salvation. It is the most potent message in the world. Gospel preaching does not merely change opinions it changes hearts and minds. It converts souls. This message is both a privilege to possess and an honour to share. When Isaiah wrote of the earth being full of the knowledge of the LORD he could not have conceived how it would happen. We have lived to see it fulfilled. 

‘The earth shall be full of the knowledge of the LORD, as the waters cover the sea.’ Paul confirms this, ‘the preaching of Jesus Christ’, he says, ‘ … now is made manifest, and by the scriptures of the prophets, according to the commandment of the everlasting God, made known to all nations for the obedience of faith’ (Romans 16:25, 26). Let us cast our bread upon the waters, brethren, after many days we shall find it.

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