Obvious Hyperbole

(Psa 114:3 KJV)  The sea saw it, and fled: Jordan was driven back.

(Also read Proverbs 24)

I almost laughed aloud when I read this.  What a spectrum of responses to the presence of God.  Do you see the poetic description here of the parting of the Red Sea and the opening of the Jordan River?  This is one of those places that remind us the Bible is not a staid, dull, unimaginative book but a book of truth.  And truth can be conveyed by hyperbole and irony as well as direct words.

This is obviously hyperbole.  We know that water does not have an awareness.  We know that waves cannot know fear.  We know that rivers can’t decide to change direction.  This is obviously a tool to impress on us how struck by awe we need to be.  

Or is it hyperbole?  Is it possible that the elements of creation are more in tune with the holiness of God than we are?  Could the ocean really try to run away from the awesome purity of God Almighty?  Can we afford to be so cavalier in our prayer and worship when we think about this?

So?  Next time you sing “What a Friend We Have in Jesus” remember the Red Sea backing away in haste and don’t get too cocky.