Will You Marry Me?نموونە

 Love at First Sight     

Are you sick of love yet? I didn’t think so. Here goes love story #2! 

We have a few of the same characters in this story. Jacob was one of Isaac and Rebekah’s twin sons, and just like his father, he also met his bride at a well. Laban is Rebekah’s brother and has a daughter named Rachel. He’ll soon become Jacob’s father-in-law. This is quickly becoming a small-town scenario where everyone knows everyone and they’re all becoming relatives. 

I love how this story is set up: Jacob is coming from a distant land and is weary from his travels. It’s midday, and he stops at a well to grab a drink of water and refresh. He runs into several local shepherds at the well and begins to socialize with them and do some name-dropping. 

While he’s talking to the shepherds, he sees a beautiful young shepherdess approaching with her sheep and turns on his charm. Jacob had some game! 

He tells the shepherds that this isn’t a good time for them to be at the well, but they don’t get the hint. When Rachel arrives, Jacob is instantly enamored with her. He immediately rolls the large stone from over the mouth of the well and waters her father’s flock of sheep. (The over-achieving gene must’ve run in the family!) 

And yes, you read it right: After watering his uncle’s sheep, Jacob lays one on Rachel. To be fair, it was customary in this culture to kiss as a greeting, so he was being politically correct—but you know he was dying to kiss her! 

Jacob wept when he greeted Rachel, which reveals so much about his personality. He was open and vulnerable with his feelings. I love that he was a passionate man who didn’t hold back. 

Let’s take this story and apply it to our lives spiritually. 

I love that Jacob saw Rachel and immediately wanted her to himself. Jacob is a patriarch of our faith and a prototype of Christ, who sees us, is in love with what He sees, and wants time alone with us. 

And just as Jacob removed the well’s stone for Rachel, Jesus rolled the stone away from His tomb and rose from death so we could access the living water of His Holy Spirit. Jesus gives us water from a well that never runs dry. 

Jesus also serves us, His bride, just as Jacob served Rachel. He not only gives us living water, but also uses us in other people’s lives. Like Rachel, you have people to shepherd, whether you’re a mom with children, a teacher with students, a doctor with patients, or an encourager to friends in your circle. God will water you, then use you to refresh others spiritually. 

Finally, Jesus wants intimacy with us. Just as Jacob kissed Rachel and wept, Jesus also rejoices and grieves with us. He wants vulnerability in our relationship with Him. He desires to know us and be known by us. 

Know this: Jesus is enamored with you. He loves you and thinks you’re beautiful and marvelous. He saves you and He saves me. 

Through Christ, the stone of sin that covered our hearts is rolled away and we have full access to God. He died so that we can live!