A Gracious Invitation to Abundant Life for the Thirsty

Isaiah 55:1-2, NKJV

Isaiah 55:1 begins with Isaiah shouting “Ho,” a startling cry to get the people’s attention. God graciously extends a worldwide invitation to everyone who is thirsty to “come to the waters,” and those who don’t have money, come, buy and eat.
Come; buy wine and milk without money and without price.  Even though this invitation is worldwide, only those who are thirsty can come. This thirst is not physical; it is spiritual. Our soul must have a longing for spiritual refreshment, which is a free gift of eternal life from God through faith in Christ Jesus. “Come to the waters” is a symbolic invitation for thirsty souls to come to Jesus and drink of the water he gives, and the promise is that we will never again be thirsty. The water that Jesus gives will be in him who drinks a fountain of water springing up into everlasting life (John 4:14, paraphrased). We are invited to “come, buy and eat; yes, buy wine and milk without money and without cost.” You see, in the spiritual realm we don’t need money to buy anything. Through faith in Christ Jesus, we have access to all the spiritual blessings, with which God our Father has blessed us in heavenly places (Ephesians 1:3, paraphrased). 

The prophet poses two questions in v.2 – Why do you spend money for what is not bread, and why do you spend money for what does not satisfy? The money you earn is spent for things of this world that are not bread. Even the bread (food) we eat, which is a necessity for physical nourishment, “goes into the belly and is cast out into the draught” (Matthew 15:17b). Far too often, we focus more time on material gain than spiritual gain. That’s why we can’t get “no” satisfaction. Material things are not only costly, but they are temporal and don’t give us satisfaction. There’s no harm in having material wealth as long as we don’t misuse it and put it before the only true and living God. Remember that He gives us power to get wealth (Deuteronomy 8:18). Instead of buying and accumulating things that can’t satisfy us, the prophet tells us, “listen carefully to Me, and eat what is good, and let your soul delight itself in abundance” (v.2). The table is spread with all of God’s spiritual blessings in heavenly places; come and join the feast. “The meek will eat and be satisfied” (Psalm 22:26a). Are you thirsty? If so, accept God’s gracious invitation to abundant life today.