Living Water

Read Genesis 29-30
 
Genesis 29:10 When Jacob saw Rachel daughter of Laban, his mother’s brother, and Laban’s sheep, he went over and rolled the stone away from the mouth of the well and watered his uncle’s sheep.
 
AS we read through the Bible, we will learn of the ways water demonstrates God’s salvation. We know water is the primary need in all life. The second sentence in the Bible refers to the earths’ deep waters. The Great Flood is water cleansing the earth to begin a new creation. This symbolizes the baptism of repentance and faith to come. Now at this new juncture in Jacob’s life and God’s plan to physically begin a new nation Israel, is the simple detail that a stone was rolled away to water the sheep. This daily care for the sheep illustrates an eternal joy that will nourish your soul. One day another stone would be rolled away to water Jesus’ church.
   You might know the story. It is told every Easter and hopefully more often. The Holy Spirit rolled away a large stone from the tomb in which the Son of God lay. From the tomb came the Living Water, Jesus Christ risen from the dead. The Resurrection and the Life provides now for those who thirst for God’s saving grace. From the empty tomb, the Living Water has flowed from Jerusalem that day to form Jesus’ church. As the gospel is declared, the Spirit continues to roll away sin. Dry, empty hearts become eternally nourished in God’s salvation.
   The prophet Ezekiel illustrated this in Ezekiel 47:1-12. Read it and know of God’s life-giving Word flowing from Jerusalem to resurrect a desert-like world into a new Eden. Jesus said it this way: John 7:38 “Whoever believes in me, as the Scripture has said, streams of living water will flow from  within him.”
   Laban’s sheep were very thirsty at watering time. They eagerly responded to the water Jacob provided. Do you eagerly respond to the Living Water the Good Shepherd gives to you?
 
John 4:11-14 “But sir, you don't have a rope or a bucket,” she said, “and this well is very deep. Where would you get this living water? 12 And besides, do you think you're greater than our ancestor Jacob, who gave us this well? How can you offer better water than he and his sons and his animals enjoyed?” 13 Jesus replied, “Anyone who drinks this water will soon become thirsty again. 14 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.”