Hints of the Future

We will go on to chapter 31 but I wanted to note here what I think is a hint of events to come. I was real excited when I saw it for the first time. We know the story of Jesus' death and resurrection. Of how he was buried and in three days Mary came to the tomb and the stone was rolled away. It might require a little study on our part to grasp this but there are hints of the resurrection in Genesis 29.

There is a passage that refers to the word of God being water. Ephesians 26: "That he might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the word." Then, there is another passage that tells us that Jesus was the living word of God. John chapter 1 tells of Jesus before his birth in human form. v1"In the beginning was the Word and the Word was with God and the Word was God." v7 tells of John the Baptist role in announcing Jesus "The same came for a witness to bear witness of the Light that all men through him might believe." So we see that the Word is referring to Jesus and in our verse above the water is referred to as the word.

I see the resurrection as the opening of the door to salvation. The conclusion of the plan for salvation of those who will accept it. It was when Jesus arose, often symbolized by the stone being rolled away, that man could drink of the well of salvation freely.

Look at v7,v8,v9 of chapter 29 "And he said, Lo, it is yet high day, neither is it time that the cattle should be gathered together: water ye the sheep and go and feed them. And they said, We cannot until all the flocks be gathered together and till they roll the stone from the well's mouth, then we water the sheep. And while he yet spake with them, Rachel came..."

In Jerusalem when Jesus was crucified, it was passover time and many peoples were gathered in the city just as the flocks were gathered at the well in our chapter. Then after the 3 days, the stone was rolled away and the well of salvation was made available, just as the well was made available to the flocks in our passage. There were even three flocks waiting to water just as it was on the third day that Jesus arose. Then here came Rachel, just as Mary came to the tomb in the new testament.

I do not know if the Lord intended this as a shadow of the resurrection. It is exciting to note, however, that these men could not water their flocks until the stone was rolled away from the well. Then, they drank freely. All through the old testament we look forward to the promise of the Messiah to come and deliver mankind from the curse of sin. Then, it happens. Mary goes to the tomb and the stone is rolled away. Salvation has come. The well is open for all to drink.

There is a wonderful story in John 4 starting in verse 7. It is a story about a woman who had lived a rough life. Then, one day, she meet Jesus at a well. They had a conversation and she recognized him for who he was. He offered her salvation, living water. She replied to him v15 "The woman saith unto him Sir, give me this water, that I thirst no, neither come hither to draw. v26 "Jesus saith unto her, I that speak unto thee am he." The 'he' is in italics which indicates that it was added by the translators for clarification but if you put the phrase that begins with that in parenthesis, as you must to read it properly, you will have "I am" left. I am was how God was know to the Jewish people when Moses went to deliver them from slavery. Exodus 3:13-15 tells the story of God and Moses talking about who Moses should say sent him. v14 zeroes in on it. "And God said unto Moses I AM THAT I AM: and he said Thus shalt thou say unto the children of Israel, I AM hath sent me unto you." He is truly the great I AM.

The woman at the well meet the great I AM and received living water to drink. Jesus had rolled the stone away so she could drink What was the stone that hindered her? Perhaps it was because she was a Samaritan and felt she was unworthy. Perhaps, it was because she was a sinful woman and felt she would not be accepted by God. Perhaps, it was just doubt. Regardless, she accepted Jesus for who he was and he rolled the stone in her life away so she could receive salvation and living water.

We as Christians see people all the time with stones in their lives that make it difficult for them to get to the living water of salvation. Jacob rolled the stone away and watered the flock. We too can help someone by telling them they too can drink regardless of what stone is in their way.

Proverbs 1:33 "But whoso hearkeneth unto me shall dwell safely and shall be quiet from fear of evil."