“Your peace would have been like a river..” Isaiah 48:18
Let us try to explore the promise of God, about the “peace like a river” that he is desires to extend all who obey Him. These verses from the book of Isaiah in the Bible contain the promise of perfect peace:
“If only you had paid attention to My commandments, your peace would have been like a river, and your righteousness like waves of the sea.” – Isaiah 48:18 (Berean Standard Bible).
“For this is what the LORD says: “I will extend peace to her like a river, and the wealth of nations like a flowing stream; you will nurse and be carried on her arm, and bounced upon her knees.” – Isaiah 66:12 (Berean Standard Bible).
Reflection by the River
One afternoon, I sat by a river, drinking in the beauty of the relentless flow of water and enjoying nature’s splendor. I paused from life’s hustles and calmly enjoyed the sight, realizing there was a lot to learn from this. As the river flowed, it encountered boulders and rocks at places, but that didn’t stop it; it continued to flow. It just seemed nothing could stop the flow.
I started humming the lines of a famous hymn in my mind, “When Peace like a River attendeth my way,” Wait!, peace like a river? What does that even mean? I knew this hymn was penned down by a father who lost his children all at once. I knew the story behind the song, but what does “Peace like a river” mean? We also find this phrase, “peace… like a river,” in the Bible, in the book of Isaiah. Over the next few days, I dug deeper into the Bible and other resources to understand how peace was connected to such a metaphor.
Understanding the Metaphor
Primarily, we see water never stops, no matter what comes its way; the river continues its flow. It renews itself in all circumstances and twists and turns its way through the obstacles. Now that’s a peace we are talking about, where circumstances or anxieties don’t determine your peace, it just flows no matter what happens. Today, if I ask you about peace, your mind would rush to World Peace, and the thoughts of different wars happening in the world, you are more likely to conclude that there is no peace.
Biblical Perspective of Peace
But the peace I am talking about is a peace mentioned in the Bible; Jesus says in John 14:27, Peace I leave with you, My peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid. This peace that Jesus offers is different from what the world describes it. And then again, God’s peace does not mean a life free from problems, but God renews His peace every moment just as how the river flows constantly renewed every moment. This peace is a gift from God that flows through us, relieving us of all anxieties.
The Impact of Sin on Peace
According to the Bible, there are three dimensions in which individuals encounter peace:
- Peace with God
- Peace with Others
- Peace within Oneself
As man fell into sin and defied God’s commands, man lost his peace in all these three categories. God tells in Isaiah 48:18, Oh that you had obeyed my commandments! Then your peace would have been like a river and your righteousness like the waves of the sea. The absence of peace stems from sin. At creation, man was at peace with God, but sin entered this world and man rebelled against God, destroying man’s peace with God. Nevertheless, the good news is that we can restore our peace with God. In fact, peace in all three dimensions can be reclaimed.
Restoration of Peace through Jesus
Jesus Christ came into this world to carry the punishment of our sins on the cross. Jesus Christ, who knew no sin, became sin offering for our sake. His death on the cross and his resurrection back to life makes it possible for us to once again be at peace with God, with others, and within ourselves. For this, you must individually come to Jesus and accept that you are a sinner, then you should believe that Jesus Christ paid the price of your sin on the cross and confess your sins.
Finally, accept the Lord Jesus Christ as your personal Savior. At that very moment, you can have this peace that flows like a river. Peace with God will bring about a relationship between you and Go
d. The beauty of the cross is that our past, present, and future sins are taken care of. The peace with God and the thought that Jesus died for our sins relieves us from the guilt of our sins, thus restoring our peace. Today, you too can experience this divine peace.
Embracing this Peace Like a River
Dear friend. I do not know at what point in your life you are reading this. Today, if you want to enjoy this peace, you have to receive the Peace Giver. God is the ultimate source of this ceaselessly flowing river of peace. This peace is not deceptive as the world offers. This is a peace Jesus Himself offers. Now remember, no matter what your circumstances are or how big a boulder you have encountered, this divine peace passes all understanding to keep you at rest. May God enable you to find this peace that flows like a river.
