Tuesday 26 February 2008
"The stone on the well's mouth was large, and when all the flocks were gathered there, the shepherds would roll the stone from the mouth of the well, and water the sheep, and put the stone back in its place on the mouth of the well." (v.2-3)
Background
Jacob, one of the sons of Isaac and the grandson of Abraham,comes to a well.
The opening of the well is covered by a stone, presumably toprevent it from being polluted by a bird or an animal falling intoit. The stone is so large that normally it cannot be removed untilall the shepherds have gathered with their flocks and can combinetheir efforts to shift it.
Jacob meets his kinswoman Rachel and there is much here familiarto anyone who has been reunited with a family member or found forthe first time a part of the family they did not know.
Then, as sometimes happens in stories about larger than lifecharacters around whom legend gathers, Jacob performs a superhumanfeat - he single-handedly shifts the stone from the well so thatthe flock of his relatives can be watered.
The story doesn't say whether Jacob performs another act ofunusual strength by replacing the stone. Perhaps all the othershepherds had to do that once their flocks had been able to drink.What we can be sure of is that the well was not left exposed.
To Ponder
What ways do you act together with others so thatsome needs in your community are met?
Water is still very precious which we easily takefor granted when it flows from our taps. No one person can preservethe resource so that all can have their needs met. In what ways canhuman beings act together so that this vital resource can beconserved and shared?