Fortune magazine recently defined water as the oil of the 21st century, signaling a new assault on our freedoms. Nestle CEO Peter Brabeck claims water is not a human right but should be managed by business people, aiming to control, privatize, and delegate it to sustain the planet. This raises concerns about monitoring and limiting household water use, with laws already in place in the United States requiring permits for wells and rainwater collection, punishable by fines or imprisonment. International controls could one day force cities to ration water, allowing corporate dictators to prioritize water for corporate farms over others. The privatization of water, transferring control from public to private sectors, is increasingly proposed by corporate executives and government officials worldwide. This process often leads to rate increases, compromised water quality, and a focus on profits over public interest, as companies prioritize shareholders over consumers. Privatization fosters corruption through secret deals, reduces local control, increases costs for consumers, leads to job losses, and is difficult to reverse due to international trade protections. It can also leave the poor without access to clean water, especially in developing nations where IMF and World Bank schemes exacerbate the issue, and opens the door to unsustainable bulk water exports. Water is a basic human need, yet private companies treat it as a marketable commodity, under no obligation to provide it as a right. If water rights are handed to entities focused on maximizing profits rather than serving the public good, millions could lose access. Market forces, argued by multinational corporations to bring efficiency, fail to prioritize people over profits without wise public oversight.

In the midst of severe drought conditions affecting much of the continental United States, the scarcity of water became strikingly evident, particularly in the diminished levels of lakes, rivers, streams, and ponds. Crossing bridges revealed water levels down several feet, with grass growing in riverbeds that once held five or six feet of water, underscoring the drought's impact. Nothing heightens appreciation for water quite like a drought, and it is on the Last Great Day, among the holy days, that water is especially highlighted—not just physical water from taps or natural bodies, but the living water that God promises to all humanity. In John 7, Jesus Christ Himself reveals the profound significance of water in relation to the Last Great Day. He speaks of an abundance of living water, far surpassing the mere golden pitcher used in ceremonial rituals, offering instead a sea of spiritual sustenance to those who believe in Him. During a water ceremony on the Last Great Day, priests would draw water from the pool of Siloam and pour it upon the altar in the Temple, accompanied by joyous singing of Isaiah 12:3, "Therefore with joy you will draw water from the wells of Salvation." At this moment, Jesus stood up amid thousands, declaring that anyone who thirsts should come to Him and drink, promising rivers of living water from within for those who believe. Further, in John 4, Jesus speaks to a Samaritan woman at Jacob's well, contrasting the seeping, limited water of the well with the living water He offers—flowing, inexhaustible, and refreshing. He emphasizes that the water He gives nourishes so completely that one who drinks it will never thirst again, leading to eternal life. This living water, unlike anything physical, energizes eternally, fulfilling all yearnings of the human spirit. In Ezekiel 47:1-12, a vision unfolds of water flowing from the Temple in Jerusalem, starting as a trickle and deepening into a mighty river as it moves eastward. This river, originating from the altar, grows so vast that it becomes impossible to swim in, symbolizing an overwhelming abundance. It brings life wherever it flows, healing even the Dead Sea, transforming it into a living sea teeming with fish, demonstrating the miraculous power of this water to heal and foster growth. Habakkuk 2:14 envisions this water from the Temple not stopping at the Dead Sea but spreading until the whole earth is saturated with God's knowledge, flowing gradually, rising steadily until it encompasses all. This water of life is active and energizing, inspiring action akin to its Source, Jesus Christ, and promising transformation for those who partake. Finally, in Psalm 36, during the Great White Throne Judgment, the children of men will trust in God and be abundantly satisfied with the water of life, the Fountain of Life. The proclamation echoes Jesus' call on the Last Great Day, inviting all who thirst to come and drink freely, with water in abundance for everyone, more than enough to satisfy every desire.

This earth is experiencing a physical drought of water, paralleling the monetary drought affecting the wealthy during the financial crisis. Both the scarcity of water and riches stem from moral and ethical bankruptcy. If humanity lived righteous lives, God would provide for our needs, including supplying that water.

Water has become increasingly precious amid the prolonged and worsening droughts across the American West. A staggering 95 percent of the region is currently in drought, with 65 percent classified as extreme or exceptional, marking the largest area ever recorded in such dire conditions. Hydrologists and water experts are bracing for the first-ever federally declared water shortage on the Colorado River, which includes Lake Mead, the nation's largest capacity reservoir, and Lake Powell, the second-largest. The U.S. Bureau of Reclamation anticipates that record drought conditions, persistent demand, and intense heat will continue to drive water levels down at an alarming rate, necessitating this declaration. The Colorado River and its reservoir system supply water to over forty million people across seven western states and Mexico, representing more than ten percent of Americans. This vital resource also generates over four thousand megawatts of hydroelectric power, supporting countless communities and major cities like Los Angeles, Phoenix, and Las Vegas. Beyond drinking water and power, the river irrigates nearly six million acres of farmland and sustains critical habitats for wildlife, connecting to nine national parks and seven national wildlife refuges. Mandatory water rationing, known as Tier One cuts, will impact all seven states in the Colorado River Water Basin—Arizona, California, Colorado, Nevada, New Mexico, and Wyoming. Arizona and Nevada, heavily reliant on the river, face significant reductions, with Arizona losing nearly twenty percent of its allocation. Meanwhile, California has shut down the Edward Hyatt Hydroelectric power plant due to low water levels in Lake Oroville, the state's second-largest reservoir, exacerbating challenges during a period of high electrical demand and wildfire activity. Across the broader region, nearly fifty percent of the United States is experiencing some level of drought, with six states—California, Idaho, Nevada, North Dakota, Oregon, and Utah—entirely affected. Exceptional drought conditions, previously unseen in Washington State, now afflict over 33 percent of its territory, while just under 25 percent of Oregon faces similar severity. The area under extreme or exceptional drought has expanded dramatically in a short time, underscoring a troubling trend. Without substantial rainfall and snowpack in the coming seasons, the already severe cuts to water resources could become even more stringent.

Water scarcity stands as a critical element of famine, threatening food production, environmental balance, and social and political stability across the globe. Human demands for water have spiraled beyond the capacity of the earth's natural systems, with underground water tables falling in regions like the U.S. Southwest, Great Plains, India, northern China, north Africa, southern Europe, and the Middle East. Agriculture, which uses about 65 percent of water from rivers, lakes, and aquifers, suffers greatly when droughts strike, as governments often prioritize urban needs over farms, leading to reduced food production or crop failure due to insufficient irrigation. Polluted or undrinkable water poses an equally grave menace to life, with serious bacterial contaminants found in a significant portion of treated drinking water in the United States. Over-pumping in areas like Israel has caused seawater to invade key freshwater sources, while salt buildup in irrigated lands worldwide lowers crop yields. Man's efforts to compensate for the lack of rainfall through increased irrigation have harmed the environment and diminished the ability to grow food. Globally, water use has tripled since 1950, with dams causing devastating effects upstream through flooding and relocation, while downstream farmers and fishermen suffer from decreased water flow. Modern engineering, though successful in delivering water to people and farms, fails to protect the ecological functions of rivers and aquatic systems, leading to degraded deltas, shrinking lakes, disappearing wetlands, and species on the brink of extinction. The Creator blesses the earth with water according to obedience, but human misuse of resources results in destruction. Competition for dwindling water supplies intensifies as water tables fall and rivers dry up, with conflicts arising over shared river systems in regions like China, Bangladesh, Israel, Palestine, central Asia, and between the United States and Mexico. Water scarcity in the Middle East has historically fueled tensions and armed confrontations, as seen in Israel's strategic gains of water resources after conflicts. Future wars over major rivers crossing international borders are foreseen due to thoughtlessness and ignorance regarding food supply. The lack of water is tied to sin, bringing affliction through drought and famine as a form of punishment. Obedience to God ensures rain falls as needed for the health of agriculture, the environment, and people, with God promising showers of blessing to the obedient.