The invitation to life

Isaiah invites people four times to come to God. “Come, all you who are thirsty, come to the waters; and you who have no money, come, buy and eat! Come, buy wine and milk without money and without cost!” (Jes 55,1)These invitations are not only for the people of Israel, but for people of all nations: “See, you will call nations you do not know, and nations that do not know you will run to you because of the Lord your God, the Holy One of Israel, who has glorified you” (verse 5). They are universal calls to come, and they embody the invitation to God’s covenant of grace for all.

First, the call goes out to all who are thirsty. In the Middle East, being without water was not merely an inconvenience; it was life-threatening and could very well lead to death. This is the position in which all of humanity finds itself after turning its back on God. “For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.” (Röm 6,23)God offers you clean water; that is the solution. Isaiah seems to be referring here to the Middle Eastern water seller who offers clean water because access to drinkable water means life.

The woman at Jacob's well in Samaria could recognize that Jesus was the Messiah, therefore he could offer her the living water: "Whoever drinks of the water that I will give him will never be thirsty again. The water that I will give him will become in him a spring of water welling up to eternal life." (Joh 4,14).

Who is the water – who is the source of the water? On the last, the highest day of the festival, Jesus stood up and said: “If anyone is thirsty, let him come to me and drink. Whoever believes in me, as Scripture has said, rivers of living water will flow from within him.” (Joh 7,37-38)Jesus is the living water that brings refreshment!

Then comes the call to come, buy, and eat, addressed to those who have no money, thus highlighting our human inability and helplessness to buy. How can someone without money buy food to eat? This food has a price, but God has already paid the purchase price. We humans are utterly incapable of buying or earning our own salvation. “For you were bought at a price; therefore glorify God with your body.” (1. Kor 6,20)It is a free gift, given by the grace of God, and this free gift had its price: the self-sacrifice of Jesus Christ.

When we finally come, we get «wine and milk», which underlines the richness of the offer. We are invited to a banquet and given not only the sheer need for water to survive, but also the luxury of wine and milk to enjoy. This is a picture of the splendor and abundance God gives to those who come to him and his wedding supper.
So why chase after the things the world has to offer that ultimately won't satisfy us? "Why spend your money on what is not bread, and your labor on what does not fill you up? Listen to me, and you will eat what is good and delight in what is delicious." (Jes 55,2).

Since the beginning of world history, people have repeatedly tried to find fulfillment and satisfaction outside of God. “Incline your ear and come to me; hear, and you will live. I will make an everlasting covenant with you, the steadfast love of David.” (Jes 55,3).
God prepares a table and overflows. God is a generous host. From the beginning to the end of the Bible: “The Spirit and the bride say, ‘Come!’ And whoever hears, let them say, ‘Come!’ And whoever is thirsty, let them come; whoever wishes, let them take the free gift of the water of life.” (Offb. 22,17)Accept God's invitation, his gift, with joy, because God loves you and has accepted you as you are!

by Barry Robinson