Whenever you meet someone for the first time, initial impressions play a part in whether or not you will call this individual a friend or foe. The context of the passage below begins as Isaac goes out to a well to pray. This isn’t just a community well, this is Beer-lahai-roi . This name was given to this place by Abraham who had a divine moment here, referring to this place as the well to the Living One Who sees me.
And Rebekah looked up, and when she saw Isaac, she dismounted from the camel. 65 For she [had] said to the servant, Who is that man walking across the field to meet us? And the servant [had] said, He is my master. So she took a veil and concealed herself with it, Genesis 24:64-65.
Since the introduction of the Lone Ranger in 1938 and television show a decade later, Hollywood has used anticipation as a vital tool to grab the attention of viewers. Once the Lone Ranger was portrayed as a hero, people wanted to know “who is this masked man?” From Rebekah’s perspective, she wanted to know who is this man approaching their caravan?
Jesus answered her, All who drink of this water will be thirsty again. 14 But whoever takes a drink of the water that I will give him shall never, no never, be thirsty any more. But the water that I will give him shall become a spring of water welling up (flowing, bubbling) [continually] within him unto (into, for) eternal life. 15 The woman said to Him, Sir, give me this water, so that I may never get thirsty nor have to come [continually all the way] here to draw. 16 At this, Jesus said to her, Go, call your husband and come back here. 17 The woman answered, I have no husband. Jesus said to her, You have spoken truly in saying, I have no husband. 18 For you have had five husbands, and the man you are now living with is not your husband. In this you have spoken truly. 19 The woman said to Him, Sir, I see and understand that You are a prophet. John 4:13-19.
Rebekah’s eagerness is similar to another woman in the Bible. Just as Rebekah met Eliezer at a well in the desert, a Samaritan woman has a similar experience with Jesus. Jesus uses thirst for water to turn their conversation into a meaningful talk that elicits spiritual hunger within this woman’s heart. As she turns toward home, she begins to ponder, “who is this man who knows so much about my life?” This type of hunger leads to salvation, Acts 4:12, securing their eternal destination in heaven, 1 John 5:12-13.
by Jay Mankus
ExpressYourself4Him 