2023_10_20 Insight Post- Kim Feld

  -   October 20, 2023

This week’s reading-  Ezra 1-6, John  4

I love finding links in the Bible. This week’s reading has us looking at the story of the woman at the well. If you are familiar with the story, you know that several things were occurring that were a big deal. First, there was a great deal of animosity between the Samaritans and Jews, and the fact that Jesus chose to go through Samaria instead of around it is striking. The second is that He was talking with a woman alone in public. It was also striking as it was definitely frowned upon. But I wondered why this story, although one of my favorites, was part of this week’s Bible reading. I found some fantastic things.

First, if you go back in history through what we’ve been reading, you will find that Samaria was established as the capital of the Northern Kingdom under the reign of King Omri. It remained the capital until its destruction by the Assyrians in 722 BC (see 1 Kings 16:21-28). After the fall of the Northern Kingdom, it is believed they became a mixed race, intermarrying with inhabitants of neighboring countries. The area’s history is rich, including from the days of Moses. Deuteronomy 27 and 28 record a beautiful ceremony before crossing into the Promised Land with the people divided on two mountains, Ebal and Gerizim. The Levites read the law given to Moses from God, and the people responded.

Gerizim was the location of worship for the Samaritans, having built a temple there after the Babylonian Exile. The Jews worshiped at the temple in Jerusalem. Look at this:

19 “Sir,” the woman said, “I can see that you are a prophet. 20 Our ancestors worshiped on this mountain, but you Jews claim that the place where we must worship is in Jerusalem.” John 4:19-20

Another interesting point is from John 4:25 (NIV). Let’s take a look:

25 The woman said, “I know that Messiah” (called Christ) “is coming. When he comes, he will explain everything to us.”

Now let’s look at Deuteronomy 18:15 (NIV):

5 The Lord your God will raise up for you a prophet like me from among you, from your fellow Israelites. You must listen to him.

These words were spoken by Moses. A Samaritan tradition said the prophet that Moses predicted would come and teach the people (Barker & Kohlenberger, 1994). This prophecy is linked to Jesus in the New Testament.

The Bible is full of amazing links between the Old and New Testaments. As I pondered the significance of the story of the Samaritan woman, God reminded me that if He can orchestrate the intricate details of the story of His pursuit of us, He is big enough to handle the things in my life that seem overwhelming. I needed that reminder today. God is in control, and nothing that comes my way (or your way) is bigger than He is.