Hosanna Restoration Church

Now isn’t it interesting that Jacob should run into a stone of tradition or custom right after meeting God and declaring Him as the true God. Jacob was on a quest when he came to the well and found shepherds there with thirsty sheep. It made sense to him to water them if they were thirsty so that they could drink and then get back to eating. The shepherds however had a different custom. They waited until everyone was there and then watered everyone’s sheep at the same time. Talk about congestion!

I don’t know about you, but this is a pretty good picture of what religious customs can do to people. How often have people met the Lord in a very wonderful way, only to run into customs and traditions that stop the flow in their lives? Instead of letting the well flow freely, there is often a stone set on the well that says you should only take what everyone else takes when they take it. It does not matter if you are hungry or thirsty, it only matters that you do things according to customs or tradition.

It should not be this way. God does not put a cap on the well. In fact He has said that as He abides in us living waters should flow out of us to other people. I hear people talk about the problems in our world and how sin-filled it is, and I say it is our fault because we have a cap over the well and we don’t spread the life around. We only let God out at the appointed times. Well God does not like that idea so he just breaks out in people’s lives whenever and wherever He wants to. This of course makes some mad, but that is okay. God wants to get the good news out. He wants the sheep watered and fed whenever they are hungry or thirsty.

When Rachel showed up with her father’s flocks, Jacob fell in love. He did not care what their custom was; He rolled that rock away and watered her flocks. The other shepherds could have been doing that for years. If they had their flocks would have been healthier, but they just never thought about rolling it off when they needed it. They stuck with the custom. Some customs and traditions are good, but when a tradition or custom is hurting people, it needs to be changed.

Many Christians are starved and dieing because of traditional thinking. They never take the cap off the living water. Jacob did not allow tradition keep him from getting his fathers blessing and birthright, and he did not let it keep him for watering Rachel’s sheep. He stepped right through the first obstacle to his getting the blessing he asked of God.

Is there a tradition or obstacle keeping you from all that God has promised you. Are you thirsty but can’t get past the stone that is blocking the water. Well it is time to move the stone and drink of the living water. Then you can move on to the next level with God.