A Small Voice in a Shouting World

John 4:7-11, 13-14

“Give me a drink,” Jesus said to her, because his disciples had gone into town to buy food.

“How is it that you , a Jew, ask for a drink from me, a Samaritan woman?’ she asked him. For Jews do not associate with Samaritans.

Jesus answered, “If you knew the gift of God, and who is saying to you, ‘Give me a drink,’ you would ask him and he would give you living water.”

Listen: While I was reading this entire passage in the Bible (John 4:7-26), the Lord asked, “How many lines are in this conversation?” I knew from earlier Bible lessons that this was said to be the longest conversation recorded in the Bible that Jesus had with another person. As I started counting the lines, I began counting them as I would if it were a play script. However, I began doubting myself, thinking, “What if I’m supposed to count each physical line, or maybe I should count each verse.” He answered, “You know what a line is.” Haha. See, He knows I have a theatre background and my first inclination was correct. So I discovered that there are thirteen lines in this conversation between Jesus and the woman at the well.

Earlier, The Lord had shown me the significance in Hebrew numbers, so I knew 13 lines could have a meaning. When I went to the source I like to use, Grace in Torah, I found that 13 means love and unity in Hebrew, but also apathy, indifference and fear. See, often there are dual meanings that even contradict the other. Anyway, I found it very appropriate for this entire passage. It seems like the number 13 is the theme for this entire passage. Jesus represents love and unity and the Samaritan woman seemed to show apathy, indifference and even fear to a degree since she had apprehension regarding his presence, commenting that He was a Jew. When I researched what the pictograph of the number 13 is, I was blown away, it means water! The number 13 pictograph in Hebrew is a symbol that looks like water. Living water is what Jesus is inviting her to drink.

The next line that I then noticed was the 7th line:

“Go call your husband, ” He told her, “and come back here.”

I knew from previous study that Jesus was the 7th man in her life. Scripture tells us she had 6 men before. Because by the end of the passage, she believes in Jesus as the Messiah, I consider Him the 7th man and the most important one at that! I find it fascinating that this topic is the 7th line and 7 means rest, and cessation from work. It means wholeness, completeness, being ripe, order, stability and holiness. It also means we rest in the finished work of the Messiah. So in the 7th line of the conversation, He brings up her husband, knowing she had already had five husbands before and the one she was with was not her husband, He purposefully brings her husband into the conversation on the 7th line!

Now, I had two lines from this scripture that had Hebrew number meanings attached to the corresponding line in scripture. I was hooked in finding out more. Continue with me as we explore all the lines in this passage and the significance of the order of the lines related to the Hebrew meaning.

Dear Heavenly Father, Help us to see the significance in Your mysterious Word and how these hidden meanings help us get to know You better so that we may glorify You more and more in our lives! Please show each of us whatever it is that You need us to know as individuals through this passage and speak to us always. We love you. We adore you!

In Jesus Name.