THEOSISGregory the Great
When God breathes, the ice hardens—Job 37:10. As the Holy Spirit breathed upon the hearts of believers, granting them miraculous powers, jealousy intensified within the desolate hearts of skeptics. These non-believers became more hardened against God for the same reasons that humble individuals would turn away from defiance. When God’s breath descended upon them, they transformed into ice, envious of the wondrous acts they witnessed: behold, the entire world is pursuing Him—John 12:19. They had observed the signs and wonders executed by His followers, noting that all were on the brink of embracing the message of faith. Yet, with the Holy Spirit filling the earth, the spiteful malice within them only deepened.
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Thus, water became ice, whilst the barren lands of Judea remained envious, while the world congregated around God. Nevertheless, Divine Power is more than capable of softening even the most severe cruelty and melting the hearts of the unbelievers with His love. Thus, following the declaration about ice, it is fittingly stated: And the water flowed again in abundance—Job 37:10. The Lord truly poured forth water in great measure after this ice; having endured the Jewish hardness unto His death, He instantly softened their hearts from the stiffness of disbelief through His loving breath, enabling them to obey Him more willingly, especially after their previous stubbornness. The wise man correctly observed: As ice in fine weather, so shall your sins dissolve—Sirach 3:15. The prophet yearned to be liberated from this icy complacency when he proclaimed, Return our captives, O Lord, as a stream in the South—Psalms 125:4. Concerning this water, referring to the assembly of people gathered with the Lord, it is stated: He shall send forth His Word, and melt them; His breath shall blow, and the waters shall flow—Psalms 147:7. Water indeed emerges from ice, for many prominent preachers have been transformed from hardened adversaries. Hence, ice melts and turns to water when the internal frostiness is transformed into fruitful irrigation through preaching. Was not Paul like ice when he journeyed to Damascus, armed with letters, aiming to uproot the seeds of God’s Word planted in believers' hearts, as though they were mere weeds, preventing them from flourishing into good works?—Acts 9:2. Yet this ice became water, as he subsequently nurtured with streams of holy teaching those he had once sought to subjugate. Thus, a more abundant harvest of the chosen could emerge. Observe how the water of God’s irrigation flows even from the mouth of the former persecutor. Hence, it is well received.