Today’s Reading: Exodus 2:11-25; Psalm 1; John 4:1-42

Many years later, when Moses had grown up, he went out to visit his own people, the Hebrews, and he saw how hard they were forced to work. During his visit, he saw an Egyptian beating one of his fellow Hebrews. After looking in all directions to make sure no one was watching, Moses killed the Egyptian and hid the body in the sand. – Exodus 2:11-12

What must it have been like for Moses to grow up in the palace? Although he was adopted into this royal family, the fact that he was a Hebrew would have set him apart from the Egyptians around him. Pharaoh may have tolerated his daughter’s adopted son, but he most likely never accepted Moses as his grandson.

Knowing he was adopted, Moses never lost his connection with the Hebrew people. He saw how hard they were forced to work and came to their defense, killing an Egyptian who was beating one of the Hebrew slaves. When Pharaoh heard of this, he tried to kill Moses, so he fled Egypt and went to live in the land of Midian (2:11-15). There God provided him with a wife, the daughter of the Midian priest, Jethro.

IT WAS EVENING AND ZIPPORAH DID THE SAME THING SHE DID EVERY EVENING.

Zipporah gathered her empty water jug and walked to the well with her six sisters. Every evening the girls made this trip to the well, bringing back water to fill the troughs for their father’s flocks. It was her routine and perhaps her favorite time of day — the opportunity to take a walk with her sisters.

It was in living out her routine of daily spending time at the well that Zipporah’s life was forever changed. Today was different from the other days. Today there were cruel shepherds at the well who chased them away, keeping them from what they needed to do. But there was also a hero at the well who swept in and rescued the girls from the shepherds. His name was Moses (Exodus 2).

I wonder what Zipporah’s reaction was when this handsome Hebrew man dressed as an Egyptian prince came to her rescue. Had anyone ever done something of that kind of value for her before? Did she realize the significance of this moment? Did she have any idea of how quickly her life was going to change?

Zipporah was simply living out her routine of daily spending time at the well and God met her there. Her life was never the same. God had a plan for her life and she began a new journey — a journey that would someday take her a very long way from her family and friends, from the life she had always known. God blessed her generously, and she had a front row seat to watch her husband be used by God to rescue His people out of slavery.

IT IS IN LIVING OUT A ROUTINE OF DAILY SPENDING TIME AT THE WELL THAT OUR LIVES CAN BE FOREVER CHANGED.

God meets us when we faithfully spend time in His presence. Many days it will feel familiar; it will become routine. But there will be days in which God gives us a moment that will change our lives forever. He has a plan for our lives and He longs to guide us daily on our new journey — a journey with God-moments, unexpected opportunities, and living water.

Oh, the joys of those who do not
follow the advice of the wicked,
or stand around with sinners,
or join in with mockers.
But they delight in the law of the Lord,
meditating on it day and night.
They are like trees planted along the riverbank,
bearing fruit each season.
Their leaves never wither,
and they prosper in all they do. – Psalm 1:1-3

Lord, we have come to the well this morning and you have so faithfully met us there. Thank you for the truths found in your word and for the gift of your presence. We choose to plant ourselves along the riverbank so that we can produce the fruit of your Spirit today. We have come so that we will never thirst again. What our souls long for this world cannot fulfill, so we come to the well to receive all that you have for us today.

Father God, my prayer this morning for those who are reading this blog is that you will fill them with the peace and courage they need to stand strong against today’s circumstances. May they be planted beside the source of living water, strengthened for the journey ahead. Give them the faith to dare to believe, to have confidence in who you are and what you will do for them today. Amen.

But blessed are those who trust in the Lord and have made the Lord their hope and confidence.
They are like trees planted along a riverbank, with roots that reach deep into the water.
Such trees are not bothered by the heat or worried by long months of drought.
Their leaves stay green, and they never stop producing fruit. – Jeremiah 17:7-8