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Last week we talked about Lot's wife.
Today I am going to focus on The Woman at the Well.
Chapter 4: The Woman at the Well
Picture that it's a hot summer day. Not too hard to picture since summer is just now coming to a close and July was the hottest month in all the country in some 1400 months!
Your only way of quenching your thirst is to walk to the well and draw up water.
Our woman decides she is going to do this during the hottest part of the day.
The part of the day when most people avoid even being outside.
Why?
Because, no one likes her.
She is talked about for having been married a handful of times.
She is embarrassed to be seen.
Picture that it's a hot summer day. Not too hard to picture since summer is just now coming to a close and July was the hottest month in all the country in some 1400 months!
Your only way of quenching your thirst is to walk to the well and draw up water.
Our woman decides she is going to do this during the hottest part of the day.
The part of the day when most people avoid even being outside.
Why?
Because, no one likes her.
She is talked about for having been married a handful of times.
She is embarrassed to be seen.
Whatever, her reason may be she chose the perfect time to go to the well, albeit she didn't know that at the time.
Jesus was sitting by this well, his disciples were off finding food, and he sat waiting for the perfect moment.
Queue our woman, carrying a bucket.
He asks her to draw some water for him.
There are no introductions at this time, we never learn her name, but we know that He knows it.
Do you think that the omission of her name makes the story more or less true?
In my experience, when striking up a conversation with a stranger name exchanges may not occur until we part ways or not at all.
Friendly conversation with someone I may never meet again.
Sounds like something that would happen to me, so yes it feels more true.
Now we know that Jesus knew her name and about her husbands and her current lover, but can you imagine if he would have called out to her by name?
If it were me and a stranger called out my name I'd be thrown maybe concerned....less apt to stick around to see what else they knew about me.
I think that's why he decided not to call her by name.
Our study guide asks us:
She came looking for water but instead found Jesus. Was their meeting at the well a "coincidence"...or a "God-incidence"? What leads you to this conclusion?
I am a big believer in what Liz Higgs calls a "God-incidence". I believe he always means for these things to happen. Why else would Jesus not go with the men to get food and per chance to run into a larger crowd he could speak to. Instead he spoke with one woman and through her was able to reach many more.
WOW!
Wake up call to all of us.
God used one woman, one who people didn't think highly of, one who was older and of no stature.
We can all be used.
Read these verses and see what the Bible says about the our lives paths:
Job 31:4 Does he not see my ways and count my every step?
Proverbs 16:9 In their hearts humans plan their course, but the LORD establishes their steps.
Jeremiah 10:23 LORD, I know that people's lives are not their own; it is not for them to direct their steps.
I find encouragement in these verses.
God has a plan for my life.
There is a common saying that goes something like this:
Man plans, God laughs.
It is so true, sometimes we allow ourselves to get so wrapped up in ourselves that we are blind to what is going on around us.
I think that if Jesus had gone to the town with his disciples the people may not have even seen him for who he was, but because the Woman went....she caught them off guard and in turn pulled their attention.
WHAT LESSONS CAN WE LEARN FROM THE WOMAN AT THE WELL?
- 1 - Never Be afraid to ask questions
"If any of you lacks wisdom, you should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to you." ~James 1:5
- 2 - Not lying isn't the same as telling the truth
"Then I acknowledge my sin to you and did not cover up my iniquity. I said, "I will confess my transgressions to the LORD." And you forgave me the guilt of my sin." ~Psalm 32:5
- 3 - Thirst is a gift from God
"My soul thirsts for God, for the living God. When can I go and meet with God?" ~Psalm 42:2
- 4 - Water is meant to be shared not hoarded
"However, I consider my life worth nothing to me; my only aim is to finish the race and complete the task the Lord Jesus has given me-- the task of testifying the good news of God's grace." ~Acts 20:24
We know, by reading this story, that the Woman at the Well was not afraid to ask Jesus questions.
She was bold in some of her statements.
We do not need to be meek.
It is okay to be strong women.
It is okay to be bold women.
We can be both strong and bold when we put God first.
He will guide our words and actions so that they work best for him.
What's the most important lesson you've learned from this Woman?
For me it was:
Be Bold, but be cautious.
And GET EXCITED!
Once she tasted that living water she was excited.
She set down her jug and rushed to tell the good news.
I need to be more excited to share the good news with people I encounter.
I tend to save my testimonies for when I really need to relate to someone and show them that God will bring us through bad times, but I shouldn't wait for bad things to share with other.
I should share always!
How can you be like the Woman at the Well?
What jug are you carrying that may be slowing you down from drinking the living water?
Take a moment to stop what your doing and ask God to take that burdan from you.
To replace it with his love and grace.
Feel the weight lifted.
Feel the pep in your step return.
God is good and he has a plan for you.
Live it!
I hope you have enjoyed this time of study.
Please let me know if you would like to see something in particular in our discussions or if you have any questions.
I hope you have a Blessed Friday!
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