Bibledoorajar looks at two women at Shechem

      Jacob left Esau and came to Shechem a crossroads in the area. Its' location made traverse for trade easier and it also had plenty of water. These and other factors probably entered into Jacob's decision to buy land and live there. Even if God had intended for Jacob to stay in Shechem it would have not been for the length of time that he did so. Abraham did not tarry there very long at all for God had him on a path to Canaan where much greater destinies would play out. This was also true of Jacob whose name had been changed to Israel, Prince of God. But Jacob stopped the process,  paid for land, erected tents and dug a well. Surely Jacob had no idea that a terrible thing would happen to his only daughter there. Nor did he realize the action two of his sons would take after the event. You can read the story for yourselves in Genesis 34; it details a terrible ending for a girl who just went out to visit some of the local women.
     Years later Christ himself sat on the edge of the well Jacob had dug and taught a Samaritan woman. John 4:6 speaks of it. In Genesis the well is all about sin and judgement, but in John it is all about sin and redemption. The destiny of Israel to bring forth a Messiah is found playing out at Jacob's well.



"You've heard of Messiah, well I am the One,
I am called Jesus, God's only Son,
It's to people like you my Father sent me,
Drink from My cup, I'll set you free."

I rushed from the well and ran into town,
I called for the people to gather around,
"There's a man at the well who says Messiah has come,
He told me my life, every thing I had done."

I went to the well a woman in sin,
When I left that well I had Jesus within,
The curse on my lips had been changed into praise,
I'll never more thirst the rest of my days.

That Man at the well, His praises I'll sing,
I drank of the water, new life it did bring,
My life which was empty is now full and free,
Because of that water God's Son gave to me.

Portion of The Woman at the Well by Edward Potts

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