Isaiah 41:18: Re-Creation-Rivers and Valleys
The headwaters of the Yangtse River – a river that flows into the East China Sea
Wednesday, April 17, 2024
The earth is immense. Seven continents, five oceans, 165 major rivers, countless valleys.
I will make rivers flow among barren hills
and springs of water run in the valleys.
I will turn the desert into pools of water
and the dry land into flowing springs. (GNT)
Millennia ago early peoples knew the importance of rivers with their life-giving cycles of flood and recession.
I will open rivers on the bare heights,
and fountains in the midst of the valleys;
I will make the wilderness a pool of water,
and the dry land springs of water. (NRSV)
Modern humans have tried to harness the power of water in their search for sources of energy.
I will open up rivers on the barren hills
and wells down in the broad valleys.
I will turn the desert into a lake
and dry ground into springs. (CJB)
Ancient humans understood the potential for life found in life-giving rivers and the valleys through which they flowed.
Waipi’o Valley, Hawaii, USA
I’ll open up rivers for them on the barren hills,
spout fountains in the valleys.
I’ll turn the baked-clay badlands into a cool pond,
the waterless waste into splashing creeks. (MSG)
Today we reflect on the status of the world’s rivers and the valleys they nourish, and we pray for the courage to protect and defend this system of life-giving arteries that sustains God’s creation.
For a list of the oldest rivers on the planet, click on the image of the Yangtse headwaters.
For images of the some of the world’s beautiful valleys, click on the image of the Waipi’o Valley.
For more on the rivers of the world, visit these sites.
The Yumana and Ganges Rivers now have human status: http://www.cnn.com/2017/03/22/asia/india-river-human/
World Wildlife Fund: http://wwf.panda.org
For new on the world’s rivers: https://www.internationalrivers.org/press-center
Images from: https://www.tripline.net/trip/Yangtze-Gong-216551161265101195568D5D0D27FBF7 and https://www.explore-the-big-island.com/waipio-valley.html#google_vignette
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