Soft Waters, Pilgrim Faith

Abram is rich, yet he lives in a tent. He yields the better-looking land rather than strive with his brother’s son, and so shows that the righteous man is not possessed by what he possesses. As Irenaeus says, “Arise, and go through the length and breadth of the land, since I will give it unto thee;” and [yet] he did not receive an inheritance in it, not even a footstep, but was always a stranger and a pilgrim therein." The promise trained him to walk as a pilgrim, not as an owner.

Isaiah rebukes a people who would not receive the Lord’s gentle rule. They despised the waters that go softly and preferred the flood of worldly strength; therefore a harsher flood came upon them. So it is still: men refuse the quiet fear of God, the plain commandment, the lowly path, and then are broken by the very powers they trusted.

In the Gospel, the same Lord appears in meekness, yet with all authority. He touches the leper, rebukes the fever, commands the winds, casts out demons, and praises the faith of a Gentile soldier. His kingdom does not advance by noise, boasting, or grasping, but by obedient faith. Therefore many unexpected guests will enter the feast, while some who presumed on nearness will be cast out. “Yea, for many shall come, says He, from east and west, and shall lie down in the bosoms of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. Matthew 8:11”

Let us then choose the soft waters: peace over strife, pilgrimage over greed, trust in Christ over trust in visible power, and a faith proved by coming to him, obeying him, and enduring with him.