“Well” it’s a deep, ancient subject that began with Abraham. Over the centuries water has been an important resource. Many things of significance occured at the well. Abraham dug his well at Beersheba, a wilderness location identified in the Scriptures as the southern limit of the Promised Land. Abraham’s well provided a supply of water for his flocks, until it was seized by servants of the king of the Philistines, Abimelech.

Abe struck an oath with the king and gave 7 ewe lambs for affirming that Abraham had dug the well. To symbolise the covenant affirming his ownership of the well, Abraham planted a tamarisk tree and “called there on the name of the Lord, the everlasting God”. Genesis 21:25-33. The name Beersheba means “well of the oath” or “well of the seven lambs”.

Abraham and his wife Sarah evicted her slave-girl Hagar and Hagar’s son Ishmael (fathered by Abraham) to wander in the wilderness. But God promised Hagar he would also make Ishmael’s descendants a great nation. Genesis 21:8-21. It was from Beersheba that Abraham journeyed with his son Isaac to Mount Moriah at Jerusalem, where God had ordered him to sacrifice the boy as a burnt offering. Genesis 22 Isaac, built an altar to the Lord at Beersheba, and also had a dispute with the Philistines over water. Isaac resolved it in a covenant with Abimelech. Genesis 26 Isaac’s son Jacob stole the birthright from his brother Esau while the family camped at Beersheba. Genesis 27 Fleeing from Esau, Jacob had a dream about angels on a ladder reaching up to heaven. Genesis 27-28

Jacob saw God in his dream …and God said: “I am the Lord, the God of your father Abraham and the God of Isaac. I will give you and your descendants the land on which you are lying. When Jacob awoke from his sleep, he thought, “Surely the Lord is in this place, and I was not aware of it.” He was afraid and said, “How awesome is this place! This is none other than the house of God; this is the gate of heaven.” Jacob, son of Isaac, grand son of Abraham dug a well near Samaria.

Moving forward, we come to Samaria to Jacob’s well to meet a woman who had married 5 times. She came alone to draw water. This enactment enriches the profound truth of where we now draw on living water. She explains “I am rejected by others”. He said “I know, but not by the Messiah.” The Spirit of truth is not about mountains, temples or denominations. Oh Lord, give us revelation that we may worship You in spirit and truth. AMEN