Like many others who are reading through the Bible this year, I’ve been reading in Genesis. The beginning. Man, oh, man, what an epic story. And then there’s Exodus! I have been reading the history of the patriarchs in Genesis, and next up came Jacob.
Jacob was Isaac and Rebekah’s son. You might remember how Jacob, at his mother’s prompting, deceitfully stole his brother Esau’s blessing. Jacob ended up on the lam, sent away by his mother and father to spare him the wrath of his brother and to ensure he didn’t marry a Hethite woman. Jacob ended up at Bethel where he wrestled with God and God declared: “All the peoples on the earth will be blessed through you and your offspring.” And then he moved eastward toward Haran.
As he came upon a well in a field, he encountered three men waiting to water their sheep, and there he inquired about his Uncle Laban. They knew Laban and in fact pointed out that his daughter, Rachel, was approaching to water her flocks. As a skilled shepherd himself, Jacob wanted to know why they waited to water their flocks when there was good daylight grazing still to be had and why shouldn’t they water their flocks and then return them to graze. Fair question. They responded:
We can’t until all the flocks have been gathered and the stone is rolled from the well’s opening. Then we will water the sheep.
Genesis 29:8
Wow! This may sound crazy, but when I read that I thought that was probably one of the coolest verses I’d read in the Bible. I underlined and even brought out the “big yellow” to highlight the verse. I don’t want to ever forget the words nor the sense of profoundness I had when reading it. Again, this is one of those verses I’ve read often (Genesis is one of my fav), but this time those words spoke aloud.
Now, I know this is about sheep, and nothing else. It is not prophecy, and I definitely don’t want to read something into this verse that God did not intend, but if you are even vaguely familiar with the New Testament you may have had some of the same thoughts when you read it, you may have connected some symbolism in this verse too.
Jesus is the Good Shepherd. Jesus gathers His flock. Jesus removes the stone of separation. Jesus provides living water.
But this verse also made me think of 2 Peter 3:9:
The Lord does not delay his promise, as some understand delay, but is patient with you, not wanting any to perish but all to come to repentance.
Just as the shepherds were waiting for everyone to get there before they opened the well – before they rolled the stone away — the Lord, in his infinite patience, mercy and love, is waiting, purposefully extending the time of grace so that everyone will gather to permanently drink from the Living Water.
As the shepherds gather at the well, Christ is gathering His flock of believers.
He protects his flock like a shepherd; he gathers the lambs in his arms and carries them in the fold of his garment. He gently leads those that are nursing. Isaiah 40:11
As the stone is rolled away from the mouth of the well, Christ is removing sin’s barrier.
Looking up, they noticed that the stone – which was very large – had been rolled away. Mark 16:4
As the flock is watered, Christ is providing living water.
“Let anyone who is thirsty come to me and drink. Whoever believes in me, as Scripture has said, rivers of living water will flow from within them.”
John 7:37-38
Believers are gathered, all sins have been removed, and we have been , and forever will be, refreshed by the waters of life.
For the Lamb on the throne will be their Shepherd. He will lead them to springs of life-giving water. And God will wipe every tear from their eyes.”
Revelation 7:17
Amen.