Going Through – A Divine Necessity

There are times God takes us around life circumstances to protect us from harm and or protect us from what we may not be ready for.  Yet, there ARE times we are to go through.  We look at Jesus as our model.

John 4, verse 4 “Now He (Jesus) HAD to go through Samaria.” (Emphasis mine) your Bible may read, ‘He needed…’ or ‘He must…’ go through Samaria.  The word used here literally means ‘necessary’ (with a divine twist) not implying geographically, there was another route, a route other devout Jews took, a route out and around, the long way to avoid the Samaritan people.  The Samaritan folks were known as half-breeds; (in short) centuries earlier the Israelite territory was overtaken by Assyrians, many left, yet those who remained inter-married, they established their own teaching, establishing their own truth.

Scholars believe the narrative speaks (in context) to Jesus’ itinerary being subject to the sovereign plan of God – going THROUGH Samaria (where others avoided) was a divine necessity!  Jesus HAD to meet the woman at the well – she HAD to have an encounter with Jesus (“The way, the truth, and the life.” – Jn 14:6) – it was of divine necessity she took her news of Jesus back to her people, where ‘many… and many more believed in Him.’ (v39 & 41).

This going through was not an inconvenience for Jesus, going through was not geographically necessary, it was God necessary.  We see later in Acts, multiple times when mentioning the ‘church’ Samaria is listed – Jesus Himself laid the groundwork – He didn’t opt for the routine route – He went through.  We see Jesus use the same need or must; “You MUST be born again…” (Jn 3:7) And John the Baptist said, “He (Jesus) MUST increase, I MUST decrease…” (Jn 3:30) Divine necessity indeed!  The principle for us: Following God’s leading, other than a routine route is not a DETOUR – it is a divine necessity of His sovereign plan.  The plan may be for us, for someone else, or both.

May we take note: God may NOT have us go through the same way (next time).  It would be a shame to tell God, “Been there, done this – I’ve got this!” When He’s left standing, pointing at something different.  When escaping the Egyptians, God had Moses reach out his staff and the waters parted at the Red Sea – however, when finally entering the Promised Land, He instructed Joshua to have the priests carry the Ark to the river’s edge, once their feet touched the water, it too parted.  Perhaps it may appear the same ‘go through’ but – His method may be different.  It is HIS plan, HIS path, HIS how and when.  His.

My through and your through may look different, they are of His divine plan, He may take us around – either the around or through is for His glory!

In Him, DeDe (“Let us consider how we may spur one another on towards love & good deeds.” – Hebrews 10:24)

*The above is an excerpt from the teaching I presented the woman at church.