WAITING WITH A BOX OF GIFT

The scenario at Jacob well was very interesting and it is very relevant to our Christian journey. Many times in our Christian life we have done so many things in our attempt to seek the face of the Lord concerning our needs. We seek Him through the scripture, through prayer and fasting. We go a little further by living an exemplary Christian life, waiting and hoping that heaven will soon smile on us and receive the blessing He had earmarked for us.  All these approach are awesome and acceptable and are all in line with biblical principles.  But little did we know that at times, God was in the path way of our lives with a box of gift to bless us.  Unfortunately, the irony of life is that He always wait for His children where He is least expected. It takes spiritually sensitive children of God to recognize Him that He is the one waiting for us with blessing in His hands. He wouldn’t appear to you in a way that is completely different from normal course of life, so that the uncommon appearance will not in anyway influence your actions. But He will surely test you in the simple basic principle of His words.

At the Jacob well, heaven came down. Jesus Christ was sitting at the well waiting for the Samaritan woman that had been earmarked for heavenly blessing, to have one-on-one appointment with the Creator of Universe. Perhaps the Samaritan woman got to the well, and deliberately paid no attention to the man that was sitting by. No greetings whatsoever as courtesy demanded. She was totally minding her own business, so to say. She put her bucket into the well, in an attempt to draw water. And Jesus Christ broke the silence and said to the woman, “Give me to drink.” It was like when a father was holding a box of chocolate and asks his little child that is eating a tiny candy, ‘Son, can you give me that tiny little candy?’ As it is expected, the child may decline because of his ignorance and thereby hide the candy behind him, not realizing what was in store for him in the unrevealed box behind his father. The simple act of righteousness that Jesus Christ demanded from the Samarian woman was to extend a little act of kindness to Him in exchange for the unrevealed blessing He had for her. But she declined.  She told Jesus, You are Jew and I am a Samaritan woman. How can you ask me for a drink?” Invariably, she was telling Jesus Christ, “You are out of order! Do you not realize that we do not have anything in common?

Jesus Christ, a patient father shed more light on what He was about to do to this woman He presented her another opportunity in order that she may have a change mind as He said to her, “If you understand the gift of God and also know who is asking you for a drink, you would have asked Him for a living water, and would have granted your request.” The woman replied, “You do not have anything to draw water from the well; How can you give me a living water?” Invariably she dismissed Jesus as a joker or someone who has nothing to offer. It is like treating a person with disdain and tells him off, “Get off my sight and do not disturb me.”

Jesus who knows man inside out did not let her unbecoming attitude put Him off. He still persisted but now he began to unwrap the box of His blessing as He declared, “Whosoever shall drink of this well water shall thirst again, but whosoever drink out of the living water that I will offer will never thirst again, because it shall become a well of water springing up into everlasting life.” It was like the Samaritan woman was saying to her self, “Wait a minute. What am I going to loose by asking Him to give me living water? A flood of understanding begin to unfold in her mind, and she said, “Sir, give me this water that I thirst no more.” Then Jesus drew the line. He did not say no to her request and did not promise her that her request had been granted. He said, “Go call thy husband and come together.” Invariably Jesus was indirectly telling her, much as I am ready to give you the living water, your cup is dirty, and as a result you need to deal with your dirty cup before asking for living water. She told Him, I do not have husband. Jesus confirmed that the one she was living with was not her husband because previously she had had five husbands. She was shocked with the revelation of this secret, that perhaps, was only known to her. Your hidden sins are not hidden, they are made bare to God your Creator. Jesus declared His identity to the woman. Then she fully understood the personality of Jesus Christ. She was overwhelmed with the understanding. She could not contain the knowledge with her alone. She went abroad telling all people, “Come, see a man who told me every thing I ever did. Could this be Christ?”

This is the season of decision making. Many people had made resolution to approach the presence of God, hoping and waiting to receive from God.  Has it ever crossed your mind that in the normal course of your journey this year that God may pay you an unexpected one-on-one visit to meet those needs?  You can bet that He would not appear to you as a big man in order that you may accord Him with your humility and respect.  He is not going to appear to you as an old man so that you will not because of this extended your own self-styled pity. Perhaps He came to you like an ordinary man or woman in the course of your journey. Perhaps he appears to you as a stranger from the ethnic back-ground of the people that you have a lot resentment towards to test your faith. Expectedly and naturally, you may feel tempted to react in an unfriendly manner towards Him like the Samaritan woman. Are you ready to meet Him in righteousness and in a right attitude?

The Samaritan woman was not a spiritual neophyte. She knew the scripture; she had hope that the Messiah was coming. Perhaps she was one of the multitudes that were waiting for Him. The Messiah paid her unexpected visit but could not meet her needs because she was not spiritually ready in a righteous attitude to receive the blessing of the Lord. God did not inform Abraham that He was coming to visit Him. Abraham was relaxing in one afternoon under a Mamre tree, and he saw three strangers passing by. He ran to meet them and invited them in his dwelling place. He lavishly entertained them without knowing that he was entertaining the Host of Heaven. All his exceptionally beautiful attitude, generosity and kindness did not go in vain. Although in their old age when the hope of having a child was already lost, God remembered Abraham in His mercy and blessed him with the desire of his heart. Even if God do not appear to you personally, every blessing that will comes your way on earth originate from the divine connection He established to meet your need. A right relationship with God and a right attitude with others and a token of kindness towards others is what you need to prepare you for receiving your blessing in this season. He will surely pass by your way at His own appointed time. Therefore, be prepared!

Michael A. Eleyinafe