Of Jesus and Jacob

“Art thou greater than our father, Jacob?”

Jesus “left Judaea, and departed again into Galilee. And he must needs go through Samaria. . .Now Jacob’s well was there. . .” Jacob was but a memory, and his well a memorial to the Israelite. (How ironic that the Jew now had no access to the well, being in the hands of the Samaritans!)

The water from Jacob’s well must be drawn, and often. “There cometh a woman of Samaria to draw water: Jesus saith unto her, Give me to drink. . .” “how is it that thou, being a Jew, asketh drink of me?”. . .“If thou knewest the gift of God, and who it is that saith to thee, Give me to drink; thou wouldest have asked of him, and he would have given thee living water.” “The woman saith unto him, Sir, thou hast nothing to draw with, and the well is deep: from whence then hast thou that living water? Art thou greater than our father Jacob?” John 4:7-12. Peculiar - the Pharisees in contrast declared, “Abraham isour father!” (Where is he who will acknowledge Jehovah as his Father!?!)

“Many ancient wells descended to a great depth. Jacob’s well is still 75 feet deep and at one time it may have been twice as deep. These deep wells were necessary because of the problem of shallow wells running dry in the summer.”

Nelson’s Illustrated Bible Dictionary.

The refreshment, the quenching of the thirst from the water of Jacob’s well was short lived. “Whosoever drinketh of this water shall thirst again.” vs. 13. But Jesus is Himself a well of living water, abiding in the believer: “not I, but Christ liveth in me” Gal. 2:20. It is an ever present well of water “springing up into everlasting life.” “Ho, every one that thirsteth, come ye to the waters.” “Seek ye the Lord while he may be found, call ye upon him while he is near” Isa. 55:1a,6. And as another so aptly observed, It’s not merely an invitation; it’s a command!

But there is yet an earlier “Jacob’s well” with which we may not be quite as familiar; and a number of comparisons which should be found interesting.

The Seven-fold Promise.

(1) “the land whereon thou liest, to thee will I give it, and to thy seed.” (2) “thy seed shall be as the dust of the earth.” (3) “in thee and in thy seed shall all the families of the earth be blessed.” (4) And, behold, I AM with thee.” (5) “and will keep thee in all places whither thou goest.” (6) “and will bring thee again into this land.” (7) “for I will not leave thee, until I have done that which I have spoken to thee of.” Gen. 28:13b-15.