City Life Starter

Written by Paul Lane

The Word

29 Then Jacob went on his journey and came to the land of the people of the east. ² As he looked, he saw a well in the field, and behold, three flocks of sheep lying beside it, for out of that well the flocks were watered. The stone on the well’s mouth was large, ³ and when all the flocks were gathered there, the shepherds would roll the stone from the mouth of the well and water the sheep, and put the stone back in its place over the mouth of the well.

⁴ Jacob said to them, “My brothers, where do you come from?” They said, “We are from Haran.” ⁵ He said to them, “Do you know Laban the son of Nahor?” They said, “We know him.” ⁶ He said to them, “Is it well with him?” They said, “It is well; and see, Rachel his daughter is coming with the sheep!” ⁷ He said, “Behold, it is still high day; it is not time for the livestock to be gathered together. Water the sheep and go, pasture them.” ⁸ But they said, “We cannot until all the flocks are gathered together and the stone is rolled from the mouth of the well; then we water the sheep.”

⁹ While he was still speaking with them, Rachel came with her father’s sheep, for she was a shepherdess. ¹⁰ Now as soon as Jacob saw Rachel the daughter of Laban his mother’s brother, and the sheep of Laban his mother’s brother, Jacob came near and rolled the stone from the well’s mouth and watered the flock of Laban his mother’s brother. 

Genesis 29:1-10

⁷ “Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. ⁸ For everyone who asks receives, and the one who seeks finds, and to the one who knocks it will be opened. ⁹ Or which one of you, if his son asks him for bread, will give him a stone? ¹⁰ Or if he asks for a fish, will give him a serpent? ¹¹ If you then, who are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father who is in heaven give good things to those who ask him!

Matthew 7:7-11

Reflection

There is a long tradition of men meeting women by wells in the Bible:

• Abraham’s servant meets Rebekah: Genesis 24: 11-23
• Jacob meets Rachel*: Genesis 29:1-10
• Moses meets Zipporah: Exodus 2:14-17
• Boaz meets Ruth: Ruth 2:8-16 (This scene seems to be at a well, though a well is not mentioned)
• Jesus meets Samaritan Woman: John 4:1-45

When reading this passage of Genesis, it should be noted that Jacob is running away.  So, he is not really looking for a quick turnaround, like the story of his mother and Abraham’s servant.  His story will have some striking parallels, but it will not be exactly the same.  He, himself, is looking for a wife, and he is looking to stay.  He reaches the town of his grandfather’s family and the first people he meets know his family and are receptive.  He must have felt extremely fortunate.

Then they point out that Laban’s daughter is coming, someone who would obviously be a candidate for the wife that he seeks.  It must have seemed that this scene was written out for him.  Perhaps it was not an accident that things were falling into place, but that there was someone guiding his steps.  His anticipation for that moment of meeting this girl must have been incredible.  Translation of verse 8 & 10: “Hey you guys, get out of here.  I want to talk to this girl… alone!”

But in the verses to follow, I think that you will find out that he did not do everything right.  He was on the verge of something perfect, but perhaps he got ahead of the Lord.  You will see that things start to go a little crazy.  At the moment that he should have been drawing near to the Lord, he rushes in, throws aside custom and consideration of others and pursues his own way.  I do not want to diminish the thought of kindness he is doing for Rachel here.  After all, I believe strongly in opening doors for ladies and rising to greet them.  But such kindnesses are there to enhance custom, not to disregard it.

We can suppose an alternate history, where Jacob takes this moment, as Abraham’s servant did, to turn to the Lord and thank him for finding success so quickly.  Perhaps he would not have gone through as much heartache if he would have turned to the Lord right then.  But the point to note here is that Jacob is running from the consequences of his sin, and that his nature must be changed if he is to inherit the promises of the Lord.  And that process will be painful, but it need not last forever. Jacob has already had quite a journey with the Lord, but in this moment, where is his heart?  And what of his reliance on the Lord.  Is there anything here that points to that?

Application

What are you working toward?  Have you prayed about it?  Have you asked God for His directions?  Have you submitted your plans to His input?

I know that this is the type of thing we are afraid to do, because we often think that he is going to take something away.  And I’ll have to be honest.  He might.  So that is one step of faith, taking up your (my) cross and letting go.  The other part is trusting that God is a good God.  Ask for bread and do not expect a stone.  Ask for a fish and do not expect a snake.  It is the Lord who makes the heart of man glad, and no other thing will do.

Metro Live Worship – Verge of a Miracle

Prayer

Thank You, Lord, that Your blessings to me are unlimited.  I thank You that You are growing me and my ability to receive them.  Daily do I learn of Your mercies, and nightly my heart learns of Your kindness.  Teach my soul to look to You always.  And in the dawn of my days I shall praise You from my inner man.  In Jesus’ name.  Amen.