Genesis 29:1-14 NKJV
29 So Jacob went on his journey and came to the land of the people of the East. 2 And he looked, and saw a well in the field; and behold, there were three flocks of sheep lying by it; for out of that well they watered the flocks. A large stone was on the well’s mouth. 3 Now all the flocks would be gathered there; and they would roll the stone from the well’s mouth, water the sheep, and put the stone back in its place on the well’s mouth.
4 And Jacob said to them, “My brethren, where are you from?”
And they said, “We are from Haran.”
5 Then he said to them, “Do you know Laban the son of Nahor?”
And they said, “We know him.”
6 So he said to them, “Is he well?”
And they said, “He is well. And look, his daughter Rachel is coming with the sheep.”
7 Then he said, “Look, it is still high day; it is not time for the cattle to be gathered together. Water the sheep, and go and feed them.”
8 But they said, “We cannot until all the flocks are gathered together, and they have rolled the stone from the well’s mouth; then we water the sheep.”
9 Now while he was still speaking with them, Rachel came with her father’s sheep, for she was a shepherdess. 10 And it came to pass, when Jacob saw Rachel the daughter of Laban his mother’s brother, and the sheep of Laban his mother’s brother, that Jacob went near and rolled the stone from the well’s mouth, and watered the flock of Laban his mother’s brother. 11 Then Jacob kissed Rachel, and lifted up his voice and wept. 12 And Jacob told Rachel that he was her father’s relative and that he was Rebekah’s son. So she ran and told her father.
13 Then it came to pass, when Laban heard the report about Jacob his sister’s son, that he ran to meet him, and embraced him and kissed him, and brought him to his house. So he told Laban all these things. 14 And Laban said to him, “Surely you are my bone and my flesh.” And he stayed with him for a month.
Rachel was the first woman whom Jacob met from Haran (just as, many years before, Rebekah met his father Isaac’s matchmaker at this well), for Rachel was to become Jacob’s wife. Upon reading this perfectly timed event of God’s providential doing in biblical history, Christians could have brought to their remembrance the inspired words of St. Paul to the Roman Church: “Oh, the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are His judgments and His ways past finding out! … For of Him and through Him and to Him are all things, to whom be glory forever. Amen. (Rom. 11:33-34;36)
On this section of Genesis, Valerius Herberger (an early Lutheran Father from the 16th and 17th centuries) wrote: “Travelers who have visited the Promised Land inform us that the water of this well is muddied and pale in color. O Lord Jesus, You also muddied the well of Holy Baptism and colored and consecrated it with the power of Your blood. It is not plain water, but a washing of rebirth and renewal of the Holy Spirit [Titus 3:5]. It is truly a “fount of blood,” as Ambrose puts it, and all baptized Christians must ready themselves to drink a mirky sip from the cup of the cross. As You Yourself drank from the brook on the way (Ps. 110:7), so all who love You must endure the mirky of the cross. But this shall be followed by the sweet, joyful draught of eternal blessedness.” (The Great Works of God, prts. III & IV, trans. by M. Carver, pg. 194, CPH)
Luther penned similar words regarding the water in his baptism hymn: “All that the mortal eye beholds ~ Is water as we pour it ~ Before the eye of faith unfolds ~ The pow’r of Jesus’ merit ~ For here it sees the crimson flood ~ To all our ills bring healing ~ The wonders of His precious blood The love of God revealing ~ Assuring His own pardon.” (LSB 406)
Let us pray: O Lord, thank You for Your providential care in giving us our needs; grant us continued and strengthened faith as You give us the ultimate need for both our body and soul, through Jesus Christ, Your Son, our Lord. Amen.