FWD: Morning Manna (Nov. 16); BP: Jn. 4:1-29; RBTTY: Heb. 11:20-40; Ez.

 
Samuel D. High
sdhigh@aristotle.net

 

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-----Original Message-----
From: Apostle Tom <pressingon@hotmail.com>
Sent: Sat, 15 Nov 2008 18:56:12 -0600
To: <pressingon@hotmail.com>
Subject: Morning Manna (Nov. 16); BP: Jn. 4:1-29; RBTTY: Heb. 11:20-40; Ez.
 

November 16                                                                                                                                                                                                  “Divine Appointment”

“And He must needs go through Samaria.”

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                   John 4:4

     Burning bushes are everywhere—if we’ll but look for them.

     Any true disciple of Jesus, the Risen Lord, knows there are no accidents or coincidences in His Divine Providence.  Although He allows us freedom of choice, He still carries out His sovereign Will in some most unusual ways (at least it seems that way to us).

 

     Such was certainly the case in today’s Manna.

     When the disciples returned from buying food, they couldn’t figure out why Jesus was talking to the woman from Sychar—but none had the courage to ask Him (vv.8, 27).  Such is always the case when we look at things in the “natural,” rather than the “eternal.”  They, like the Samaritan woman, knew the Jews normally had no dealings with these half-breeds (v.9).  In fact, by the second century, the Jewish rabbis had a parable that said “He that breaks bread with a Samaritan is like he who eats the flesh of swine!”

 

     So much for compassion and tolerance!

     Pride and prejudice always blinds us to the workings of God.  That’s why we must daily “be crucified with Christ” (Gal. 2:20) and ask the Holy Spirit to help us view things from His perspective, not ours; otherwise, we’ll soon find ourselves operating on our own agenda and doing things in our own strength, not His.

 

     Yes, the Lord Jesus “must needs” go through Samaria that day for He had a Divine Appointment with a five-time divorced, adulterous woman at Jacob’s well (vv.6-7, 16-18).  It’s interesting that the Greek word “deo” is used here for “must needs” and basically means “to knit, wind, tie up, etc.”  It’s a term you’d expect to find used in a seamstress’ shop, not an encounter between Jesus and this woman from Sychar.

 

     But, Jesus knew she was in need of “living water” (vv.10, 13-14), for she’d been too often to the “dry wells” of racial and religious differences (vv.9, 19-20) and failed relationships.  He also knew her life was fractured and frayed like a worn piece of fabric.  That’s why she’d thrown caution to the wind and moved in with someone without being married.  She was tired of being used and then thrown away (through divorce) and figured a “warm body” was better than “no body” early in the morning.

 

     So, yes, the Stranger from Galilee was a “Man on a Mission” that day—a Divine Mission (Lk. 19:10)—and had a Divine Appointment with the guilt-ridden Samaritan woman.

     Could it be the same is true today?  Could it be this “day which the Lord has made” (Ps. 118:24) is the day for another Divine Appointment and we’re going to be the “vehicle” which He uses to show up?

 

     Remember:  When we walk in Grace and by faith, we must trust that He will lead us where He wants us to be and link us up with those who are seeking Him, even if they don’t realize it (Prov. 3:5-6).  May we so “walk in the Spirit” that we’ll look back at the end of the day and sing, “He leadeth me, O blessed thought.”  Amen and amen.