‘Then Jacob hurried on, finally arriving in the land of the east. He saw a well in the distance. Three flocks of sheep and goats lay in an open field beside it, waiting to be watered. But a heavy stone covered the mouth of the well. It was the custom there to wait for all the flocks to arrive before removing the stone and watering the animals. Afterward the stone would be placed back over the mouth of the well. Jacob went over to the shepherds and asked, “Where are you from, my friends?” “We are from Haran,” they answered. “Do you know a man there named Laban, the grandson of Nahor?” he asked. “Yes, we do,” they replied. “Is he doing well?” Jacob asked. “Yes, he’s well,” they answered. “Look, here comes his daughter Rachel with the flock now.” Jacob said, “Look, it’s still broad daylight—too early to round up the animals. Why don’t you water the sheep and goats so they can get back out to pasture?” “We can’t water the animals until all the flocks have arrived,” they replied. “Then the shepherds move the stone from the mouth of the well, and we water all the sheep and goats.” Jacob was still talking with them when Rachel arrived with her father’s flock, for she was a shepherd. And because Rachel was his cousin—the daughter of Laban, his mother’s brother—and because the sheep and goats belonged to his uncle Laban, Jacob went over to the well and moved the stone from its mouth and watered his uncle’s flock. Then Jacob kissed Rachel, and he wept aloud. He explained to Rachel that he was her cousin on her father’s side—the son of her aunt Rebekah. So Rachel quickly ran and told her father, Laban. As soon as Laban heard that his nephew Jacob had arrived, he ran out to meet him. He embraced and kissed him and brought him home. When Jacob had told him his story, Laban exclaimed, “You really are my own flesh and blood!”’ Genesis 29:1-14(NLT)
‘But very early on Sunday morning the women went to the tomb, taking the spices they had prepared. They found that the stone had been rolled away from the entrance. So they went in, but they didn’t find the body of the Lord Jesus. As they stood there puzzled, two men suddenly appeared to them, clothed in dazzling robes. The women were terrified and bowed with their faces to the ground. Then the men asked, “Why are you looking among the dead for someone who is alive? He isn’t here! He is risen from the dead! Remember what he told you back in Galilee, that the Son of Man must be betrayed into the hands of sinful men and be crucified, and that he would rise again on the third day.” Then they remembered that he had said this. ‘ Luke 24:1-8(NLT)
‘But those who drink the water I give will never be thirsty again. It becomes a fresh, bubbling spring within them, giving them eternal life.”’ John 4:14(NLT)
‘And I will give you a new heart, and I will put a new spirit in you. I will take out your stony, stubborn heart and give you a tender, responsive heart. ‘ Ezekiel 36:26(NLT)
Are you sick of love yet? I didn’t think so. Here goes love story #2!
We have a few of the same characters in this story. Jacob was one of Isaac and Rebekah’s twin sons, and just like his father, he also met his bride at a well. Laban is Rebekah’s brother and has a daughter named Rachel. He’ll soon become Jacob’s father-in-law. This is quickly becoming a small-town scenario where everyone knows everyone and they’re all becoming relatives.
I love how this story is set up: Jacob is coming from a distant land and is weary from his travels. It’s midday, and he stops at a well to grab a drink of water and refresh. He runs into several local shepherds at the well and begins to socialize with them and do some name-dropping.
While he’s talking to the shepherds, he sees a beautiful young shepherdess approaching with her sheep and turns on his charm. Jacob had some game!
He tells the shepherds that this isn’t a good time for them to be at the well, but they don’t get the hint. When Rachel arrives, Jacob is instantly enamored with her. He immediately rolls the large stone from over the mouth of the well and waters her father’s flock of sheep. (The over-achieving gene must’ve run in the family!)
And yes, you read it right: After watering his uncle’s sheep, Jacob lays one on Rachel. To be fair, it was customary in this culture to kiss as a greeting, so he was being politically correct—but you know he was dying to kiss her!
Jacob wept when he greeted Rachel, which reveals so much about his personality. He was open and vulnerable with his feelings. I love that he was a passionate man who didn’t hold back.
Let’s take this story and apply it to our lives spiritually.
I love that Jacob saw Rachel and immediately wanted her to himself. Jacob is a patriarch of our faith and a prototype of Christ, who sees us, is in love with what He sees, and wants time alone with us.
And just as Jacob removed the well’s stone for Rachel, Jesus rolled the stone away from His tomb and rose from death so we could access the living water of His Holy Spirit. Jesus gives us water from a well that never runs dry.
Jesus also serves us, His bride, just as Jacob served Rachel. He not only gives us living water, but also uses us in other people’s lives. Like Rachel, you have people to shepherd, whether you’re a mom with children, a teacher with students, a doctor with patients, or an encourager to friends in your circle. God will water you, then use you to refresh others spiritually.
Finally, Jesus wants intimacy with us. Just as Jacob kissed Rachel and wept, Jesus also rejoices and grieves with us. He wants vulnerability in our relationship with Him. He desires to know us and be known by us.
Know this: Jesus is enamored with you. He loves you and thinks you’re beautiful and marvelous. He saves you and He saves me.
Through Christ, the stone of sin that covered our hearts is rolled away and we have full access to God. He died so that we can live!
from Will You Marry Me?