An Invitation To All Who thirst Series

I have a vivid memory of temperatures of 100 degrees with high humidity. We were spending the hot summer days of high school in full football pads doing wind sprints and all sorts of drills. We took salt tablets to prevent cramps from all the loss of salt through sweating and we would be so thirsty during those practices that we were desperate for something to drink.

Then our coach would blow the whistle and call for a Gatorade break. That was an invitation that was never refused. God gives an invitation too for all who thirst spiritually.

Isaiah 55:1 to 13

“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.

Why spend money on what is not bread,

and your labor on what does not satisfy?

Listen, listen to me, and eat what is good,

and you will delight in the richest of fare.

Give ear and come to me;

listen, that you may live.

I will make an everlasting covenant with you,

my faithful love promised to David.

See, I have made him a witness to the peoples,

a ruler and commander of the peoples.

Surely you will summon nations you know not,

and nations you do not know will come running to you,

because of the LORD your God,

the Holy One of Israel,

for he has endowed you with splendor.”

Seek the LORD while he may be found;

call on him while he is near.

Let the wicked forsake their ways

and the unrighteous their thoughts.

Let them turn to the LORD, and he will have mercy on them,

and to our God, for he will freely pardon.

“For my thoughts are not your thoughts,

neither are your ways my ways,”

declares the LORD.

“As the heavens are higher than the earth,

so are my ways higher than your ways

and my thoughts than your thoughts.

As the rain and the snow

come down from heaven,

and do not return to it

without watering the earth

and making it bud and flourish,

so that it yields seed for the sower and bread for the eater,

so is my word that goes out from my mouth:

It will not return to me empty,

but will accomplish what I desire

and achieve the purpose for which I sent it.

You will go out in joy

and be led forth in peace;

the mountains and hills

will burst into song before you,

and all the trees of the field

will clap their hands.

Instead of the thornbush will grow the juniper,

and instead of briers the myrtle will grow.

This will be for the LORD’s renown,

for an everlasting sign,

that will endure forever.”

God’s invitation is to the nation of Israel after they spent many years in Babylonian captivity. They had acquired possessions in their captivity and even owned land.

A glorious future awaits them if they are obedient and accept God’s invitation. Their concern for earthly riches threatens to keep them from true spiritual riches of the blessings that God gives.

The invitation is to everyone (come everyone Verse 1) It is a universal invitation. What a wonderful truth that God is no respecter of persons. The invitation is not come if you have it all together or have high social standing.

This invitation is for those who live on both sides of the tracks. God is going into the highways and byways with his invitation to offer His invitation.

Those without water know the aching pain of thirst. Water is symbolic of God’s presence. Waters of God’s presence which satisfy are on offer from God himself. In the context water is a precious commodity. In both Israel and Babylon water can be scarce.

It was so valuable that it was not unusual to have water merchants. God is offering to satisfy spiritual thirst to those without money. The waters that truly satisfy the painful void without God are freely available to all.

In John Chapter 4 we have the conversation recorded of Jesus and the woman at the well. Jesus asked her, “Where do you get life-giving water?” Then the disciples want Jess to eat and Jesus says he has spiritual food.

In verse 1b there is an invitation to the hungry. People spend money on food that satisfies their hunger for a few hours. Here is food offered that will satisfy for eternity and it comes without cost.

There are three variations to the invitation; come, buy and eat. God’s gift cannot be purchased, but are received by faith. We are called to listen carefully. We must hear with the intention to obey. God makes salvation available to all with an everlasting covenant. This is something to rejoice over!