Got Water?

Last week Ethiopia announced its plan to build a new dam on the Nile River, which will most certainly affect the balance of water distribution in countries like Egypt, Sudan and South Sudan. 

Recent studies show that the Middle East, already one of the most arid regions of the world, is facing a critical water crisis because of poor management and severe droughts. The region has long grappled with several major disputes over water involving Israel, Jordan, the Palestinians, Egypt, Sudan, Iraq, Iran, Syria, Turkey and Yemen, and these are getting more serious as water levels fall. 

The latest report underlines concerns that the water crisis is worsening almost by the day at a time when the region is engulfed in political turmoil. This is largely due to the upheavals of the so-called Arab Spring in which four longtime dictators were toppled, triggering bloodshed and power struggles that show no sign of abating.

Despite fears over the years that nations would go to war over water, no such conflicts have broken out, although there have been heavy skirmishes caused by the quest for water security, most notably involving Israel and its Arab neighbors.

It’s interesting that the issue of water is mentioned a lot in the Bible. The Lord said, "My people have committed two sins: They have forsaken me, the spring of living water, and have dug their own cisterns, broken cisterns that cannot hold water.” (Jeremiah 2:13)  Jesus told the Samaritan woman, “Whoever believes in me, as Scripture has said, rivers of living water will flow from within them." (John 7:38) 

While we cannot help the people there with physical water, we can offer them the “Living Water” that can change their lives—both on earth and eternally. 

“For the Lamb at the center of the throne will be their shepherd; 'he will lead them to springs of living water.' 'And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes.'" (Revelation 7:17)