by Tim Hall

As I turn on the faucet, water fills my glass. Stepping into the shower, I don't wonder whether there will be water today. I've lived in this house for over twenty years now, and there have been very few times that our pipes haven't been filled with freely flowing water.

But it hasn't always been so on this piece of real estate. Out back, barely visible beneath the chestnut tree, is a brick-lined hole in the ground. It's filled with dirt and rocks now, but once this was a well, the source of all the water used by the residents. How reliable was this well? I have no information on that. But I know wells sometimes go dry. And that means hardships.

It's not that there is no longer any water underground. It's the accessibility of the water that has changed. The bottom of the well may have caved in, or water tables may have shifted. No, there's plenty of water down there, but you have no way of getting to it now.

For a time, Israel had no access to the favor of God. They brought it upon themselves. In spite of repeated warnings from the prophets, Israel and Judah chose to reject God's will in favor of idolatry. God's punishment was looming, warned prophets like Isaiah, Amos and Jeremiah. When it comes, you'll wonder if you will ever again taste God's grace.

After the fearful visions of punishment, though, there were always words of hope. Isaiah 12:1-3 is a noteworthy example: "And in that day you will say: 'O Lord, I will praise You; though You were angry with me, Your anger is turned away, and You comfort me. Behold, God is my salvation, I will trust and not be afraid; "For YAH, the Lord, is my strength and my song; He also has become my salvation."' Therefore with joy you will draw water from the wells of salvation" (NKJV).

In those days the wells of God's mercy were dry. God was still merciful, but He wasn't making it available to His people during the punishment. "No mercy" was God's firm stance for a period of time, and how they suffered as a result! But those days were now at an end. Though He had been angry with His people, that wrath had subsided. Now they were again free to come to the wells of salvation. The waters were once more accessible.

The wells are flowing still, a fact made clear by Jesus in John 7:37,38: "If anyone thirsts, let him come to Me and drink. He who believes in Me, as the Scripture has said, out of his heart will flow rivers of living water." Note that Jesus did not say "cups of water" or "buckets full". "Rivers" of water will flow through each heart that trusts in the Lord enough to follow Jesus Christ.

We're talking about deep wells with a great abundance of water. No wonder Isaiah said we would draw from the wells of God's salvation with joy! We have confidence that every time a bucket is lowered, salvation will be drawn up. What marvelous blessings! What a gracious God! "Great is the Holy One of Israel in your midst!" (Isa. 12:6).