“‘你从水中经过，我必与你同在 …。’” - 赛 43:2
对以色列民来说，这句关于从水中经过的话有特别的意思。在逃离埃及时，他们来到无法逾越的红海，看来他们将要被追赶他们的法老的军兵困住了。然而神却行神迹为他们开路，好让他们在干地上穿越红海（出埃及记14章）。后来他们也是同样走干地上过约但河、进入应许之地的（约书亚记3-4章）。因此，从水中经过的这个说法，便成为用来简洁地表达在任何困境中神都必定看顾他们的方式。
对住在孟加拉国南部萨奇拉地区的人来说，这句话也有特别的意义。他们住在世界上最大的红树林附近的巨型冲积平原上，他们时常经历带来严重洪水泛滥的突发飓风和暴风。上涨的水位令很多稻田浸在海水中，农地被毁，居民被逼迁移，以致造成了经济困难、粮食不足、和被气候影响的大量难民。
这些居民“从水中经过”时，他们不是孤军作战，因为有帮助他们的基督教机构陪伴他们同行。这些机构帮助他们学习新的技能、找寻新的工作、改进他们的务农技术。他们也由此学习去更加信靠神。
面对生命的风暴和挑战时，我们每一个人都可以信靠神。衪就在我们身旁。
祷告
神啊，求你怜悯每一个正在面对挑战的人。我们“从水中经过”时，求你按你的应许与我们每一个人同在。阿们。
以赛亚书 43:1-7
1雅各啊，创造你的耶和华，以色列啊，造成你的那位，现在如此说：“你不要害怕，因为我救赎了你；我曾提你的名召你，你是属我的。
2你从水中经过，我必与你同在；你趟过江河，水必不漫过你；你从火中行过，必不被烧，火焰也不着在你身上。
3因为我是耶和华你的神，是以色列的圣者，你的救主。我已经使埃及做你的赎价，使古实和西巴代替你。
4因我看你为宝为尊，又因我爱你，所以我使人代替你，使列邦人替换你的生命。
5不要害怕，因我与你同在。我必领你的后裔从东方来，又从西方招聚你。
6我要对北方说‘交出来！’，对南方说‘不要拘留！’，将我的众子从远方带来，将我的众女从地极领回，
7就是凡称为我名下的人，是我为自己的荣耀创造的，是我所做成、所造做的。”
Passing Through The Waters
"When you pass through the waters, I will be with you. . . ." - Isaiah 43:2
These words about passing through waters had a special meaning for the people of Israel. When they fled from Egypt, they came to the impassable Red Sea, and it seemed they would be trapped by the pursuing Pharaoh and his army. But God miraculously opened a way so that they could cross on dry land (Exodus 14). Later they also crossed the Jordan River on dry ground to enter the promised land (Joshua 3-4). So the idea of passing through waters became a shorthand way of saying that God would watch over them through all kinds of adversity.
These words have special meaning for the people of Satkhira in southern Bangladesh. They live on a huge flood plain near the world’s largest mangrove forest. They often experience cyclones and storm surges that cause massive flooding. Rising sea levels are also flooding miles of rice paddies with saltwater, destroying farmland, displacing families, and leading to economic hardship, food insecurity, and climate refugees.
As these folks “pass through the waters,” they are not alone but are being accompanied by Christian organizations who help them learn new skills, find new employment, and adapt their farming techniques. And they are learning to trust God.
All of us can trust God in the storms and challenges of life. He is right there with us.
Prayer
God, grant your mercy in the lives of everyone facing challenges. As you promise, be with us all as we “pass through the waters.” Amen.
