"The stone on the well’s mouth was large, and when all the flocks were gathered there, the shepherds would roll the stone from the mouth of the well, and water the sheep...” Genesis 29: 3-4
One major theologian and Bible scholar have remarked that the well story is a stock story that writers of the bible use when they need a transition. He may have a point. The image of the well is used often to tell stories throughout the Bible.
The well appears in at least four major stories of the Bible; Hagar and Ishmael at the well (Genesis 21:9), Rebekka and Isaac met at the well (Genesis 24:15-22), Jacob and Rachael met at the well (genesis 29:9-12) and Jesus and the woman at the well (John 4).
I don’t believe that the well is a stock image that just anyone used. I have been to Israel twice in my life and people’s lives depended on where the well or spring was in proximity of their home. Israel is arid and water is not plentiful, therefore, life could only happen if it was near a source of water. The well in Biblical days and present time was the community center, the beginning and the center of all life.
If anything, I believe that the image of the well in biblical texts tells us about the presence of God and how the subject’s life of the story is about to change. In other words, the well implies or signifies a life changing experience or event through God’s presence.
In this case, Jacob met Rachael and both of their lives changed forever. The well does more than change lives, it refreshes life. In our text for today, Jacob was running away from a past and God gives him a new beginning with his relationship with Rachael.
As Jacob quenched the thirst of the thirsty sheep, I see God and Jesus as our well always waiting to quench our thirst. We are always welcomed back to the source of all life to be rejuvenated, refreshed and re-commit our life to Christ.
In this season of Lent, let’s go back to the source of all life, Christ and recommit ourselves to quenching the flock that is God’s Creation. This season, we should re-dedicate our soul, our mind and our spirit to workings of the Lord and allow ourselves to be changed in the process by Holy Spirit.
Prayer: Dear Lord, help us to return to you and prepare our being for the continual work in your Creation. Amen.
