Dear People Who Keep Company With God,
In Biblical times wells not only provided much needed water they were also places of social gatherings and spiritual encounters. One very significant well was at Beersheba.
Abraham dug this well and there was contention for it (Gen. 21:25). Each of us has a Holy Spirit well within us (Isaiah 12:3) and the enemy will try his best to stop it up or pollute it. I believe community life and spiritual encounters are as vital to our spiritual health as water is to our body.
Abraham settled the dispute by giving seven ewe lambs and named the place Beersheba, which means “the well of the seven” (Genesis 21:25-34). I believe these seven lambs speak prophetically of the Seven Spirits of God spoken of in Isaiah 11:2-5 and Revelation 5:6. The key for keeping your well flowing with the pure water of the Spirit is ownership. Is Jesus Christ Lord of your life?
Geographically speaking, Beersheba is at the end of the road if you were headed south in Israel. As the last stop before entering the wilderness, Beersheba became a launching point for many spiritual journeys. Abraham, Hagar, Jacob, and Elijah all experienced life-changing encounters with God in association with Beersheba (Gen. 16:8; 21:17; 28:10-22; 46:3-4; 1 Kings 19:3).
We see this so clearly illustrated in the life of Jacob. As a young man he was sent out by his father, Isaac, from Beersheba to go find a wife amongst his mother’s relatives. On the first night of the journey he experienced an open heaven, was given the commission originally given to His grandfather, Abraham, and saw what has become known as “Jacob’s ladder” (Gen. 28:10-22).
As an old man Jacob and his entire family were invited by Joseph to come to Egypt so they could be cared for during a severe famine. As Jacob began this journey he again found himself in Beersheba and experienced yet another encounter with The Lord (Gen. 46:1-4).
In this encounter The Lord gave Jacob four essentials for being launched into the next season of his journey.
1. I am God
2. Do not be afraid to go where I am leading you
3. My purposes for you are there, not here
4. I will go there with you
What God told Jacob is what He is tells us when we come to our own Beersheba. He always starts with Himself, not us – “I am God,” “I am Lord.” In the New Testament Jesus explained to Nathaniel that He was Jacob’s ladder (John 1:51). Every new season of our journey in the Kingdom of God must begin with a fresh revelation of Jesus Christ Himself (Matt. 16:15-19). You must not proceed until you have that revelation.
Next, He tells Jacob the most repeated command God gives in the Scriptures, “Do not fear.” Entering into unknown and uncertain territory or times is scary. There are so many questions that do not have any answers. Fear keeps many good people parked in what God was doing where we are comfortable with the familiar, but God is not in the place called here anymore. We can’t stay here. We must go there.
As we begin to take those first few faltering and uncertain steps toward the place called there, He will begin to speak about there and the new purposes He has for us there. Last, but not least He promises His abiding Presence as we go there.
A lot of believers come to an ending (Beersheba) in their spiritual journeys. A season ends, a ministry ends, a particular move of God ends and on and on. When we find ourselves at the ending just know it is really a beginning. The Holy Spirit is a Spirit of newness (Rev. 21:5).
Many Blessings, BW