When a Samaritan woman came to draw water, Jesus said to her, “Will you give me a drink?” (His disciples had gone into the town to buy food.)

The poor woman went to the well that day for the same reason she had routinely made that trip countless number of times before. She was not expecting any extraordinary situation as she approached the well. But the sight of the man sitting by it may have raised a hair. He was alone and nobody else was around the area.

“Will you give me a drink,” the stranger said?

The accent was familiar, but certainly not Samaritan. It was Jewish, and that shocked her – for Jews did not associate with Samaritans. What followed next would change, not only the life of the woman, but that of the folks in her town forever (Jn. 4:1-42).

When God wants our attention, sometimes, He isolates us in different situations. The woman was oblivious of her divine appointment with Jesus on that day. The disciples of Jesus had no idea why Jesus took route through Samaria from Judea to Galilee (3-4). Neither could they imagine why they made the stop at the outskirt of Sychar and had to go to town to buy food, leaving Jesus alone at the well. The Samaritan woman came to the well alone. Women usually went in the company of others to fetch water. So, there they were, Jesus and the Samaritan woman, alone in that remote and quiet environment. There was nothing circumstantial about their meeting. It was divinely planned – a determined agenda on the Savior’s earthly calendar, and very purposeful. The salvation of the wretched woman and that of many others in her town was the goal (7-26, 39-42). Jesus opened the door of the miracle and blessing of God’s redeeming grace to the Samaritans. Every minute of His time there, was planned for teaching and effect.

There are times God isolates us in different ways for specific purposes. Sometimes, He chooses to isolate us on a sickbed for our attention. There are times He meets us in very difficult situations, with no one to assist us. Other times, He chooses to take something we love so much away from us. He may also choose to deny us success in some things – either by our negligence or other people’s doing. Either way, His providential hand works to draw us to Him. What some may call a tragedy, may be a transforming encounter with the Lord of the resurrection. His signals may be all around us. A little curiosity like Moses with the burning bush, may draw us near enough to hear God’s call to His assignment and blessing.

Whatever the circumstance may be for you, the isolation is for the same purpose – your attention and blessing. My encouragement is to yield to Him, however His call may get to you. It’s a response you’ll cherish for the rest of your life.