The Feed Mill

Today’s Bible Reading: Genesis 29-30

Today’s Devotional: Genesis 29:9-12

Genesis 29:4 In the days before road signs, GPS, or the internet and cell phones. Jacob didn’t know where he was until he asked.

Genesis 29:5 Jacob knew to make contact with his uncle Laban.

Genesis 29:7 Jacob saw the time and their sheep, and knew their sheep would be tired and thirsty. And Jacob encouraged them to refresh their sheep because they were thirsty.

Genesis 29:10 Jacob went near and rolled the stone from the well’s mouth so the sheep which Rachel came with may drink.

Jacob knew that he had been sent to marry of the daughters of Laban, so he was more than willing to show kindness towards and his strength to who might be chosen for marriage to him.

The shepherd boys waited for the timing of someone else to role away the stone, to water the sheep they were responsible for watering.

Jacob on the other hand showed kindness and strength in the presence of Rachel.

Anyone reading the account here in Genesis 29 should immediately be taken to John’s Gospel; John3:22-4:42.

John 3:22-36 we’re introduced a 2nd time to baptism in John’s Gospel.

John 3:34 John the Baptizer, not to be confused with one of the 12 Apostles or the author of this Gospel, is quoted saying that Jesus speaks the Word of God.

So the Word of God should be highly prized among those who have, John 3:33, received His testimony.

And the 2nd half of John 3:34 John the Baptizer says that God does not give the Spirit by measure. Speaking both of Jesus and prophetically of the New Covenant.

The Apostle John now in John 4 records the next events in the life of Jesus.

John 4:1-4 Jesus and the Apostles depart.

John 4:5 they come to a city of Samaria near Jacob’s well.

John 4:7-26 Jesus has a dialogue with a Gentile woman who comes for water in the heat of the day. And Jesus expounds on what the New Covenant is to be.

The New Covenant is a marriage, not to this world or the happiness of this world, but a covenant relationship with God.

1. Where His Spirit is given without measure John 3:34

All who come to Him who are tired and thirsty there is no measure to the satisfaction and fulfillment which Jesus gives.

1. An indwelling of a fountain, satisfying in its direction to eternal life John 4:14 which is without measure, and specifically speaking of the Holy Spirit.

2. Access to God, worshiping in Spirit and in Truth John 4:23-26

• Jesus in John 4:22 connects true worship to true knowledge
  through divine revelation.
• Jesus in John 4:24 says that true worshippers must worship in spirit and truth.
• Jesus confirms the woman’s statement about where she knew where Truth would come from. True knowledge through true revelation only comes from the Words of Jesus. So if we are going to worship Jesus in truth we must know what His Word says about Him. Luke 24:27 tells us that all of scripture is about Jesus.

Jesus has shown great kindness to us through His life which He gave up willingly that we might be redeemed. And His kindness doesn’t stop there, He has told us everything of who He is through His Word, and He has displayed His great power to us by sending His Holy Spirit to dwell within us Ephesians 1:19 & 2:22. This is the wedding of eternity you want to be at. By growing in the knowledge of His Word and the coming upon of the Holy Spirit we are able to then Worship Him for who He truly is and not with partial knowledge, not worshipping what we do not know.

I would like to encourage you this year, if you’ve felt dry in your relationship with the Lord last year or the beginning of this year to fall in love with who He says He is and the power which He works within your life to make you His. Rachel experienced Jacob’s word of who he was and saw first hand the strength he showed towards her. The Samaritan woman at the well also experienced the Word of Truth and the strength which He loved her with as her Savior. Both Rachel and the Samaritan woman ran with great joy that filled their lives from those encounters. Wouldn’t you like the same relationship with Jesus, a relationship of His love towards you through His Word and His power through His Holy Spirit working in your life, which leads to joy.