Genesis 29:1-14 (NRSV)
Read Genesis 29:1-14 on biblegateway.com
Chapter 29Then Jacob went on his journey, and came to the land of the people of the east. Verse 2As he looked, he saw a well in the field and three flocks of sheep lying there beside it; for out of that well the flocks were watered. The stone on the well's mouth was large, Verse 3and 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. Verse 4Jacob said to them, "My brothers, where do you come from?" They said, "We are from Haran." Verse 5He said to them, "Do you know Laban son of Nahor?" They said, "We do." Verse 6He said to them, "Is it well with him?" "Yes," they replied, "and here is his daughter Rachel, coming with the sheep." Verse 7He said, "Look, it is still broad daylight; it is not time for the animals to be gathered together. Water the sheep, and go, pasture them." Verse 8But they said, "We cannot until all the flocks are gathered together, and the stone is rolled from the mouth of the well; then we water the sheep."
Verse 9While he was still speaking with them, Rachel came with her father's sheep; for she kept them. Verse 10Now when Jacob saw Rachel, the daughter of his mother's brother Laban, and the sheep of his mother's brother Laban, Jacob went up and rolled the stone from the well's mouth, and watered the flock of his mother's brother Laban. Verse 11Then Jacob kissed Rachel, and wept aloud. Verse 12And Jacob told Rachel that he was her father's kinsman, and that he was Rebekah's son; and she ran and told her father. Verse 13When Laban heard the news about his sister's son Jacob, he ran to meet him; he embraced him and kissed him, and brought him to his house. Jacob told Laban all these things, Verse 14and Laban said to him, "Surely you are my bone and my flesh!" And he stayed with him a month.
Devotion
Jacob rolled the stone away from the mouth of the well in order to water his uncle’s sheep. His uncle embraced him and said to him: “You are my own flesh and blood.”
Two thousand years ago a stone was rolled away from the mouth of a tomb. That tomb contained the Word made flesh who gave his own flesh and blood that we might, by grace through faith, experience the means of grace whenever we partake. So Christ has given himself, the living water, to his sheep, and we in turn who are called to be shepherds share the same so that men, women and children need thirst no more.
Prayer
Lord Jesus, roll the stones away that keep us from sharing the water of life from your well. Amen.