The woman at the well would not have been the kind of divine appointment Jesus might have expected. After all, men did not speak to women in public, especially someone of her notorious lifestyle. Even though Jesus was thirsty, He would have been expected to wait until His disciple returned or a more reputable person arrived at the well.
In fact, the woman was startled that Jesus addressed her. She was accustomed to being shunned and ridiculed. But she was clearly the appointment God the Father had for His Son. We don’t know all that Jesus knew about the woman at that moment. Perhaps in His divinity, He immediately knew her entire story. Or, perhaps as He engaged her in conversation, the Spirit guided Him to know what to say. However, what is clear is that, as Jesus engaged the woman in conversation, He began to guide her on a journey to freedom.
It is tempting to squander our conversations. Perhaps we allow shyness to overcome us so we don’t initiate a dialogue with a stranger. Or we keep our talk “safe” by discussing such innocuous subjects as the weather and sports. Or we chat away but with no purpose or goal in mind.
It is clear that as Jesus spoke with this woman, He had a destination He was heading toward. He wanted this woman to experience forgiveness and wholeness. Jesus was maximizing every word He spoke.
How redemptive are your conversations?