At The Well!

Broken, lonely, and vulnerable, she covered herself while walking to the well. Why did she choose this time of day when people were home attending to house chores and commitments? Was it the perfect time to escape to the well without being seen, heard, or noticed?

Hurrying to the well, she thought it would be easy to quickly fill her pitcher and head home quietly without drawing any attention. However, things did not go as planned.

At the well was the Master, patiently waiting for her. She must have been stunned to see someone there at that time of day—a man? He looked nothing like her tribe; rather, he seemed to be a stranger. Did he lose his way? What was he doing at the well, wandering around? Filled with many questions, yet choosing to ignore him, she moved to fetch water, not expecting to be interrupted by an unknown man sitting alone near the well.

As she drew water and filled her pitcher, he asked her for a drink. “Will you give me a drink?” Startled that he would ask her for water, she pondered, Did he really ask me for water? Can he not see that we are from different backgrounds? He looks like our neighbors from the other town, and they do not like associating with us. They consider themselves the true children of God and despise anyone not from their tribe and clan. And here is one of them asking me for a drink.

“Sir, may I remind you of our differences? You have no business talking to me. Your people and mine are not on good terms. We do not associate with one another, so how can you ask me for a drink? And perhaps explain why you’re at the well at this time of day.”

He answered with a smile, “If you knew the gift of God and the person asking you for a drink, you would have asked him to give you living water.” She couldn’t believe her ears. “You do not have anything to draw water with, and now you’re talking about living water? Where will you get that living water? Even our forefathers, who gave us this well, could not provide such water. Are you saying you are greater than our forefathers?”

The Master replied, “This water you’re drawing from will never quench your thirst, but the water I give is a fountain of water springing up into everlasting life.”

Curiously, she asked, “Sir, please give me this water you’re talking about so I won’t have to come back to this well for water.”

“Go and call your husband,” he said.

“What? Did I hear right? How come he asked for my husband just because of water?”

“I don’t have a husband,” she replied sarcastically.

“You are right for saying you don’t have a husband,” he replied. “The five husbands you’ve had were not your own.”

Stunned, she let go of her pitcher and suddenly felt seen and known by this stranger sitting by the well. “Who told you so? How do you know? Are you a prophet? El Roi!”

He sees you even when your neighbors don’t, even when your household and loved ones can’t perceive the burden and weight of your circumstances that bind you to your situation.

May the Lord God Who-Sees speak to those hidden areas of your life, erasing the shame, humiliation, and every poor life choice that binds you. May His living waters flood your life, washing away all that restrains you, and may you be planted by the rivers of His ever-flowing fountain, bringing forth fruits in every season.

Do you think you can quietly hide away? I tried, but I never succeeded.
Even at the well, no matter the time, El Roi will find you.

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