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Apostolic Writings Discussions Torah

‘Living water’ from God slakes the spiritual thirst that destroys people and nations (Deuteronomy 29–31; John 4, 7)

In the dual Torah readings נִצָּבִים Nitzavim and וַיֵּלֶךְ Vayelech (“standing” and “he went,” Deut. 29:9–31:30), Moses warns the second post-Egypt generation Israel in Deuteronomy 29:14-21 that if they reject the LORD as their God and King their rejection will cause not only a physical drought in the land, but a spiritual drought too. 

In this study, we explore John 4, where the apostle John records Yeshua’s meeting with a Samaritan woman at Jacob’s well near Shechem. Although the conversation starts with a conversation about the water in Jacob’s well, it ends with Messiah Yeshua (Christ Jesus) offering her “living water” to satiate her deepest spiritual longings. She is also blessed to be the first person, besides His mother, who receives the knowledge of Yeshua’s messiahship straight from Him.  

Then in John 7, Yeshua brings a similar message to those gathered in the Temple for the last day of Sukkot, offering them living, spiritual water. The difference is that the “living water” the Samaritan woman accepted, Israel’s leadership in Jerusalem violently rejected, bringing on themselves the curse Moses warned about.