Category: Biblical Basics

Dr Hollisa Alewine – Footsteps of Messiah Part 152 (Walking on Water Part 3 – When You Walk on Water, Remember This)

When You Walk on Water, ?Remember This – Part Three

In Walking on Water Part Two, we looked in depth at the Gospel of Matthew 14:22-33 account of Yeshua walking on water. The “fourth watch of the night” was our key phrase, helping us to understand the elation, terror, and sinking feeling Peter might have had as he processed:

a) Sababa! Yes! I can walk on water like it’s dry land! It’s like the Exodus!

b) Oy vey! It’s the last watch of the night, and the wind will allow the waters to return to normal at daybreak! I could be killed like Pharaoh’s army!

Yeshua, however, had authority over the wind frightening Peter with its ability to destroy armies and pound them into the abyss of a watery grave. Yeshua’s authority over the angels of the four winds and all other principalities and powers is a second key to understanding why Peter might have had that sinking feeling that his solid footing in the water might collapse.

One example is the destruction of Sodom and three other cities of the valley at sunrise. Oddly, the text describes Lot and his daughters as arriving in Zoar when the sun came up, yet, this is when the angel took them by the hand to depart Sodom! How could they be in two places almost simultaneously? It was humanly impossible to escape to Zoar that fast unless there was a supernatural quality to the angel’s “hand” that saved them.

Likewise, Yeshua took Peter’s hand when Peter cried out, “Lord, save me!” Yeshua walked him to the boat, and John adds a detail: “So they were willing to receive Him into the boat, and immediately the boat was at the land to which they were going” even though the text states they were three or four miles along the water. (Jn 6:21)

This, too, would be impossible if Yeshua’s hand of salvation weren’t supernaturally fast transportation. A boat is a symbol in Scripture not only of international commerce, but of how nations and continents are connected and interconnected. The fact that walking on water occurs on the Galilee is also symbolic. Galilee came to be known as “Galilee of the Nations” not only because of the diverse people groups that lived there during epochs of history, but because of Isaiah’s prophecy:

But there will be no more gloom for her who was in anguish; in earlier times He treated the land of Zebulun and the land of Naphtali with contempt, but later on He shall make it glorious, by the way of the sea, on the other side of Jordan, Galilee of the Gentiles. The people who walk in darkness will see a great light; those who live in a dark land, the light will shine on them. (Is 9:1-2)

While Peter made the connection between the Exodus past and a prophesied Exodus of the future, the Book of Acts suggests he didn’t completely internalize the commission to the Gentiles until much later. Perhaps he assumed that Isaiah’s prophecy was intended only for the lost Israelites among the nations who were to be restored by Messiah.

Indeed, the deportation of many Israelites and Jews occurred from that very area, yet the Greater Exodus will also draw many from every nation, tribe, and tongue just as it did in the first Exodus. All those who call on the Name of YHVH will be saved then as Peter demonstrated.

In Part One, we parsed the Hebrew text of Exodus 14:21 to see that the English translations of how the water was swept back all night didn’t do justice to the text:

“Then Moses stretched out his hand over the sea; and the LORD swept the sea back…”

But let’s read the literal words:

“And stretched Moshe his hand over the sea and will walk YHVH the sea…”

For modern English grammar purposes, let’s read: “and YHVH will walk the sea.”

It explained why Yeshua, the arm of YHVH, walked on water and why Peter believed it might be Yeshua instead of a “ghost”…and why he, too, might walk on water:

The sons of Israel went through the midst of the sea on the dry land,
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In Part One, we consulted the Creation text of Genesis One to see that the parting of the sea was not only into two walls as artistry usually depicts, but it was like walking through a water tunnel. Water above, on either side, and below. And if below, why did Peter consider water walkable, or “dry land”? Again, the Hebrew text explains:

Then Moses stretched out his hand over the sea; and the LORD swept the sea back by a strong east wind all night and turned the sea into dry land, so the waters were divided.

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“And made the sea to dry land and split the water”

Incredibly, supernaturally, the Salvation of YHVH split the water and made the sea dry land. Made the sea dry land. Made the sea dry land. You’ll remember that some day if you are among the generation alive at the time of the resurrection. He will make the water into dry land and split the water, just as John prophesies that he will “split the sky”:

“The sky was split apart like a scroll when it is rolled up, and every mountain and island were moved out of their places.” (Re 6:14)

If that weren’t incredible enough, the Revelation continues along a strange thought found in the ancient Jewish commentaries on the crossing of the Reed Sea. We accept that Yeshua will catch the righteous dead and living into a “cloud” to meet him in the air, or sky, but we are resurrected, not just “ghosts” swirling and booing in the wind. We will have substance, and so will the cloud, just like the water of the Reed Sea.

If the water is somehow transformed into substance to provide that supernaturally swift last-watch-of-the-night ride to safe haven (literally) for the saved, then the rabbis’ comments concerning one of the miracles at the Sea make sense:

“The waters were split” [14:21]. All the waters of the world were split when the sea was split. Ten miracles occurred at the sea. First, that it split. Second is that it was made like a dome or a roof and Israel walked under the water. The water was under, on the sides of and over Israel. Third, it was dry under them, so that Israel should not smear their feet with mud. Fourth, for the Egyptians, the earth was all mud and slime and they sank into it. Fifth, the water was congealed and hard as stone. Sixth, the water was not congealed completely, but it was congealed a section at a time. It was like large boulders, in the expectation that when the Egyptians would drown, the hard water would smash their heads, like stones. These pieces were on top of each other, like a brick wall. (Tze’enah Ure’enah, Commentary to Beshalach)

The commentators describe changes in the substance of the sea. In the first miracle, the waters split, but not only the Reed Sea, but all the waters of the world so that the world could witness the salvation of Israel. Too fantastic? Not so much when we see that Yeshua walks on water on the Galilee in the territory of Galilee of the Nations! Prophetically, all nations would one day see the glory of the Father and how much He loves His creation, especially those who seek His Son.

Rahab tells the Israelite spies this forty years later: “For we have heard how the LORD dried up the water of the Red Sea before you when you came out of Egypt…” (Joshua 2:10)

He didn’t just part the waters, He dried them! And the nations knew it!

The fifth and sixth miracles are a little harder to swallow until we read John’s prophecy of what happens once the sky is split in Revelation:

“Then the kings of the earth and the great men and the commanders and the rich and the strong and every slave and free man hid themselves in the caves and among the rocks of the mountains; and they said to the mountains and to the rocks, ‘Fall on us and hide us from the presence of Him who sits on the throne, and from the wrath of the Lamb; for the great day of their wrath has come, and who is able to stand?’” (Re 6:15-17)

The pursuit of the righteous by the wicked among the nations will be swallowed up by great miracles at the Sea of the Peoples. They’ll first get all mucky and confused (already there!), then they’ll realize that the safe path for the saved by the Blood of the Lamb is not safe for those under the Wrath of the Lamb. It’s turning to smashing rocks!

Peter lost faith when he saw the wind, and he had to call on Yeshua. Remember this. When it looks like the angels of the four winds, or princes and principalities, or spiritual darkness in high places (and low ones!) are bringing destruction, our confidence is in the right arm and saving hand of YHVH, Yeshua. For Peter, the time of destruction was too close for comfort. He knew that the “dry land” he walked on could turn to stones of destruction at any second.

We, too, should not be distracted by the spiritual forces being used to shepherd us into safe haven. A time will come when it seems darkest that “immediately” we’ll find ourselves transported in a watery cloud of dry land nicknamed “Capernaum,” the place where Yeshua docked their boat (Jn 6:21). Capernaum in Hebrew is Kfar Nachum, or “City of Comfort.” Yes, it has the same two-letter Hebrew root, nach, as Noah. Yes, you will walk on water with Messiah.

Remember this when it seems Yeshua is nothing more than a ghost.

Remember this when he takes your hand and walks you through the water to a City of Comfort like the parable of Lazarus being escorted by angels to comfort while the rich man endured torment.

“Faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.” (He 11:1)

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Dr Hollisa Alewine – Footsteps of Messiah Part 151 (Walking on Water Part 2 – Sink or Walk on Water?)

Sink or Walk on Water?
Part Two

In Walking on Water Part One, we looked at the following account of Yeshua walking on water:

But the boat was already a long distance from the land, battered by the waves; for the wind was contrary. And in the fourth watch of the night He came to them, walking on the sea. When the disciples saw Him walking on the sea, they were terrified, and said, “It is a ghost!” And they cried out in fear. But immediately Jesus spoke to them, saying, “Take courage, it is I; do not be afraid.”
Peter said to Him, “Lord, if it is You, command me to come to You on the water.” And He said, “Come!” And Peter got out of the boat and walked on the water and came toward Jesus. But seeing the wind, he became frightened, and beginning to sink, he cried out, “Lord, save me!” Immediately Jesus stretched out His hand and took hold of him, and said to him, “You of little faith, why did you doubt?” When they got into the boat, the wind stopped. And those who were in the boat worshiped Him, saying, “You are certainly God’s Son!” (Mt 14:24-33)

Last week, we found one answer as to why Yeshua walked on water. We’ll look at some other answers next week, but our second question was, “Why was Peter afraid of the wind?” Hadn’t the wind been blowing just as fearfully up until then? He didn’t think about that before he crawled out of the boat?

Knowing what Peter knew about the dangerous time of the morning watch, the last watch of the night, we can venture an educated guess. To know what Peter knew, we refer to the Torah:

“When morning dawned, the angels urged Lot, saying, ‘Up, take your wife and your two daughters who are here, or you will be swept away in the punishment of the city. But he hesitated. So the men seized his hand and the hand of his wife and the hands of his two daughters, for the compassion of the LORD was upon him; and they brought him out, and put him outside the city.’” (Ge 19:15-16)

The sun had risen over the earth when Lot came to Zoar. Then the LORD rained on Sodom and Gomorrah brimstone and fire from the LORD out of heaven, and He overthrew those cities, and all the valley, and all the inhabitants of the cities, and what grew on the ground. But his wife, from behind him, looked back, and she became a pillar of salt. Now Abraham arose early in the morning and went to the place where he had stood before the LORD; and he looked down toward Sodom and Gomorrah, and toward all the land of the valley, and he saw, and behold, the smoke of the land ascended like the smoke of a furnace. (Ge 19:24-28)

Yeshua came to rescue the disciples from the windstorm in the last watch of the night [in Roman calculation, the fourth watch; in Hebrew calculation, the third watch]. From the texts above, we can see that the last watch of the night before the dawn is a dangerous time. Especially back then, who could know the precise moment when the sun would break the horizon, ending the last watch and beginning the timeframe of morning?

When the morning dawned, destruction could begin, rescue could end, or righteousness could view the destruction from afar, or “the place where he stood before the LORD.”

In this account of Genesis Nineteen, Peter could see the traditional explanation of the destination of three groups of people: the righteous (Abraham), the lukewarm (Lot and his wife and daughters), and the wicked (the cities of Sodom). Yeshua reminds the Laodiceans in Revelation of the danger of remaining in the category of the lukewarm, who ultimately cannot stand in the same place as the righteous in the Kingdom. It doesn’t mean they are not rescued, but it does mean they are not in good “standing” relative to the righteous.

At the crossing of the Reed Sea, Peter has this reference for destruction following the last watch of the night:

So Moses stretched out his hand over the sea, and the sea returned to its normal state at daybreak, while the Egyptians were fleeing right into it; then the LORD overthrew the Egyptians in the midst of the sea. The waters returned and covered the chariots and the horsemen (Ex 14:27-28)

The last watch is a time of uncertainty. No one knows exactly when the day will break. Peter knows the east wind that divided and congealed the water will cease blowing and the water will return to its liquid state at daybreak.

Perhaps in that moment he believes he, too, is “appointed to wrath” with the destruction of Israel’s enemies by the one coming from Edom with vengeance. The disciples acknowledge Yeshua as the “Son of God” when he saves Peter. It was a teaching moment for Yeshua to remind the disciples that not only did they believe in him as Messiah, they followed him completely. They were not appointed to a place of wrath, but to obtain a final salvation like their father Avraham, who stood in a righteous place of faith. What they’d just experienced was simply a little test, a tribulation. Yeshua asks, “You of little faith, why did you doubt?”

“…and to wait for His Son from heaven, whom He raised from the dead, that is Jesus, who rescues us from the wrath to come.” (1 Th 1:10)

“…hindering us from speaking to the Gentiles so that they may be saved; with the result that they always fill up the measure of their sins. But wrath has come upon them to the utmost.” (1 Th 2:16)

“For God has not appointed us to wrath, but to obtain salvation by our Lord Jesus Christ…”(1 Th 5:9)

The plan was never to save as few people as possible, but as many as possible, including the Gentiles. The disciples’ commission was to go to the nations and proclaim this compassionate salvation so that the Gentiles could choose to also stand in the place of righteous faith like THEIR father Avraham as well:

“…and the father of circumcision to those who not only are of the circumcision, but who also follow in the steps of the faith of our father Abraham which he had while uncircumcised…For this reason it is by faith, in order that it may be in accordance with grace, so that the promise will be guaranteed to all the descendants, not only to those who are of the Law, but also to those who are of the faith of Abraham, who is the father of us all…” (Ro 4:12, 16)

How could Peter preach to the Gentiles if he was doubtful that Yeshua would save him from the wrath upon the wicked? Before we blame Peter for being so unsure about his own salvation, how many times have we questioned our own relationship with Yeshua?

Or how many put more faith in their job security, ammo, food prepping, or withdrawing from personal evangelism in order to protect themselves from the coming wrath on the wicked rather than in Yeshua’s ability to make us stand in a place of righteousness or take us by the hand to walk us to our rescue?

We, too, sometimes doubt if we are making our “calling and election sure” or if Yeshua will save us from a time of vengeance upon the wicked. The Prophet Isaiah gives a chilling prediction and a comforting reassurance, just as Lot’s family received “the compassion of the Lord”:

“…For the day of vengeance was in My heart, and My year of redemption has come. I looked, and there was no one to help, and I was astonished and there was no one to uphold; so My own arm brought salvation to Me, and My wrath upheld Me.” (Is 63:4-5)

Both the saved tribes and Gentiles will be saved from the vengeance and wrath on the wicked or the lukewarm who choose to remain in wickedness rather than flee from it, holding onto the hand of Yeshua. It is Yeshua’s job to uphold the relationship of those who are saved for the Father. He is the Father’s “own arm” of salvation.

When we are too focused on our ability to hold Yeshua’s hand instead of his ability to hold ours, we falter in obedience, either failing to perform his Word out of despair to protect ourselves or proudly believing others don’t deserve to receive salvation and withdrawing our “righteous” selves from their presence. Neither response is the faith of Avraham, who ran to welcome guests so that he or recue his nephew so he could demonstrate the faithfulness of El Shaddai to His creation.

The people who laugh at your commandment-keeping today will come seeking you in a time of trouble.

The people to whom you could have ministered will arise and accuse you at the end of days. (Lk 11:30-35)

Yeshua tells Peter that he needs to practice his faith. Everyone has a little faith, but not everyone exercises it in a day of trouble, which is only a tribulation, not the inescapable wrath of the Lamb, which will leave no rock unturned in the search to root out the wicked from the earth.

We can learn from Peter’s doubt in the actual test of his faith. In fact, it’s a relief to know that men who literally walked with Yeshua didn’t get things right on the first try.

In 1 Thessalonians 2:16, Paul made a sobering prediction: those who hinder the process of proclaiming salvation to everyone will suffer the very wrath they presume they will escape! Not everyone is a great evangelist, but by practicing, exercising our faith in the Word, we will proclaim Messiah until he returns. A life lived faithfully according to the Word will never hinder those who could be saved. It will invite them to the Shabbat table so that they may see that the Lord is good.

The question is, are we practicing our faithfulness in front of those who have yet to receive Yeshua as the Messiah? Do we engineer our Shabbats, the Feasts of YHVH, kosher eating, etc., so that they do not bring attention to us, or do we let that light shine? If we don’t shine, thinking self-preservation is preferable to the salvation of others, how will they ever make the stand of righteousness that Avraham took?

Avraham stood in a very secure place, only seeing the smoke of Sodom from afar. He suffered no loss from the fires of Sodom (1 Co 3:13). Not like Lot and his family, to whom the smoke was probably clinging, and they suffered a huge loss in their rescue even though it was “the compassion of the LORD”: (1 Co 3:15; Jude 1:23): “…save others, snatching them out of the fire; and on some have mercy with fear, hating even the garment polluted by the flesh.”

Such a salvation was the result of keeping a low profile with friends and family, so much so that Lot’s sons-in-law thought he was joking when he finally spoke up, and the townspeople were furious at him.

The wrath of the Lamb was the risk Peter thought he was taking when he looked at the wind and waves in the last watch. We, too, can be distracted by the news, war rumors, economic woes, political maneuverings, and the abominable behaviors akin to Sodomite living with no boundaries, but we don’t have to worry about Yeshua’s wrath if we take his hand. He is the outstretched compassionate arm of YHVH, the Living Word of our salvation. Spiritual darkness in high or low places has no claim over our salvation, and we will be tested until we grow in our faith in Yeshua.

In Part Three in the next newsletter, we’ll take a look at another significant fear Peter likely had when he looked at the wind and waves. It will extend the idea of the danger of wrath and judgment coming at the dawning of the day. It will reinforce the prophecy that Messiah will come from Edom when he comes in wrath upon the Beast and the nations who serve him, for to come from Edom is to come from the east like the east wind that blew all night to make a way of rescue for the Israelites at the Reed Sea.

Yeshua’s authority over the angels of the four winds and all other principalities and powers is a key to understanding why Peter might have had that sinking feeling that his solid footing in the water would collapse.

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