Encounters at the Well

Last month, we focused on the study of water. We learned that water is essential for life; no plants, animals, or humans can survive without it. From a spiritual perspective, we discovered the importance of receiving the Living Water from Jesus Himself. Understanding the significance of water, we now turn our attention to its preservation and the reliability of its sources. This month, we study Wells.

Wells provide a dependable water source directly from the earth. According to a Google search, the typical depth of a well ranges from 100 to 800 feet, while some wells reach depths of 1,000 feet or more. Reflecting on this spiritually, just as Jesus is our Living Water, we need to cultivate our own wells to maintain a consistent and reliable connection to God's Living Water. Now, let's delve into the study of wells.

Wells represent divine appointments. There were several divine appointments of wells recorded in the Bible. I encourage you to read Genesis 24, “A Bride For Isaac.”

It is a memorable story that involves Abraham sending his servant Eliezer to find a wife for his son, Isaac. Eliezer prayed by the well, asking God to lead him to a young woman who would offer him a drink and also water his camels. Before he even finished praying, Rebekah came out and when Eliezer asked her for a drink, she not only gave him water but also watered all his camels. This marked the beginning of a divine appointment, leading to Rebekah becoming Isaac's wife.

Genesis 24: 17-20                                                                                                                         

Then the servant ran to meet her, and said, “Please let me drink a little water from your jar.” And she said, “Drink, my lord;” and she quickly lowered her jar to her hand and gave him a drink. When she had given Eliezer a drink, she said, “I will also draw water for your camels until they have finished drinking.” So she quickly emptied her jar into the trough, and ran again to the well and drew water for all his camels.

Then we see that Jesus meets the Samaritan woman at the well.  One afternoon, while Jesus’s disciples went into town to buy food, Jesus approached a Samaritan woman at the well and asked her for a drink. The story is recorded in John 4:7-30. This simple request sparked a conversation that seemed innocent at first but gradually revealed profound truths. Through their dialogue, Jesus unveiled His true identity and brought to light the woman's past. This encounter not only led to the woman's salvation but also to the salvation of her entire village.

Wells Reveal a Person's True Self.

When I reflect on the two stories above, I cannot help but wonder how these encounters at the well reveal a person's true character. In the first story, where Eliezer meets Rebekah, we see her kindness and diligence. Rebekah's quick and kind response to a stranger's request, along with her willingness to go above and beyond by watering the camels, demonstrates her character. When Eliezer met her family and explained his mission to find a bride for Isaac, they initially wanted more time with Rebekah. However, Rebekah did not hesitate to leave her home and embrace a new life. This shows her readiness and determination, further revealing her true self.

In the story where Jesus meets the Samaritan woman, when Jesus asks her for a drink, she did not respond by giving Him one. Instead, she questioned His request, saying in John 4:7 "How is it that You, being a Jew, ask me, a Samaritan woman, for a drink?" Her surprise was understandable, as Jews typically had no dealings with Samaritans. As their conversation progressed, it became clear that the woman had a past she preferred to keep hidden. She had had five husbands, and the man she was currently with was not her husband. This revealed her lonely life and her pattern of changing partners in an attempt to fill the void in her heart and find love.

John 4:13-14                                                                                                                                                 Everyone who drinks this water will be thirsty again. But whoever drinks the water I give them will never thirst. Indeed, the water I give them will become in them a spring of water welling up to eternal life.

What Is The Source Of Your Well?

Now let’s continue with the story of the Samaritan woman. Her attempts to satisfy her hunger for love and fulfillment came from her relationships with men. Despite this, she remained unsatisfied and found herself in yet another relationship with a man who was not her husband. Jesus told her that while pursuing her own way would leave her perpetually thirsty, following His way would lead to lasting satisfaction in God.

This raises a crucial question for us: What is the source of your well? Is it through multiple relationships, a successful career, or the amount of money in your bank account? While some of these things can be blessings from God, if they become our primary source of satisfaction, they will eventually run dry, leaving us constantly thirsty and searching for more. May our source be Jesus Christ Himself. Let us ask the Lord to give us a drink of the Living Water so that we will never thirst again.

John 4:28-29                                                                                                                               

Then the woman left her water jar, and went into the city and began telling the people, “Come, see a man who told me all the things that I have done! Can this be the Christ, the Messiah, the Anointed?”

The Well That Brings Comfort And Salvation

When most people have their shameful past revealed, they often feel embarrassed, flustered, and humiliated, sometimes even storming off in anger. However, in the story of the Samaritan woman, her reaction was quite the opposite. After Jesus revealed both His identity and her past, she ran to the village excitedly. Her response was not one of condemnation or shame but of revelation and freedom. Inspired by her encounter, the woman brought an entire village to meet Jesus.

In the story of Rebekah, Isaac was grieving the recent passing of his mother, Sarah. However, after he met and married Rebekah, the story is recorded in Genesis 24:67: “Then Isaac brought her into his mother Sarah’s tent, and he took Rebekah [in marriage], and she became his wife, and he loved her; so Isaac was comforted after his mother’s death.” The faithfulness of the servant Eliezer, followed by the encounter at the well, along with Rebekah's kindness and diligence, led to a marriage and the unity of two families. Through Rebekah's presence, Isaac found comfort after his mother's death.

Action Steps

Let's have an encounter with Jesus at the well.

Before you begin, find a peaceful and quiet place where you can be alone. Take a moment to breathe deeply and pray to God to quiet your heart.

1. Imagine yourself at the well. What are you doing? How does the surrounding environment feel? Is the weather cool and refreshing, or is it scorching hot? What does the well look like? Are you drawing water from it, drinking from it, or simply relaxing beside it?

2. As you go about your activities, Jesus walks towards you and meets you at the Well. What is Jesus doing? Does he say anything to you? Does he ask you for a drink, or does he do or say something else?

3. Jesus now gives you some small, beautiful jars filled with Living Water. He wants you to offer these jars of Living Water to your loved ones. Each jar has a label on it, and He gives you a pen to write the name of the person you want to offer the drink to. Whose name will you write on the label?

4. Recite this scripture: Psalm 34:8 O taste and see that the Lord [our God] is good; How blessed [fortunate, prosperous, and favored by God] is the man who takes refuge in Him.

5. For the next 7 days, when you pray, imagine offering the jar of Living Water to those people. Consider how you would interact with them—perhaps showing more patience and kindness, like Rebekah, or courageously sharing about Jesus, like the Samaritan woman did. What would you say to them as you offered this gift of Living Water?

6. While you were busy contemplating names and writing them, Jesus took a small jar and wrote your name on it, along with a secret message just for you. What did He write? And remember to open the jar and drink the Living Water for yourself. Enjoy!

Let’s Pray Together

Heavenly Father,

Thank you for the insightful Bible study on "Wells." Each of us has a unique well, crafted by You, our same God and Lord. Grant us the diligence to consistently meet You at our wells and experience fresh encounters with You. May the water from Your well always be clean, fresh, and nourishing for us and those around us. Empower us to generously offer others a drink from Your Living Water, especially those who have yet to know You. Grant us discernment to safeguard our wells from impurities that may pollute them.

In the name of Jesus Christ, we thank You and pray. Amen.