“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?” (Isaiah 55:1-2).
Sin lies.
Sin allures, baits, and attracts. But sin has no power to satisfy. Sin is never satiated. It is never satisfied.
It is in this context God declares:
- “Come, all you who are thirsty” (Isaiah 55:1).
- Jesus declares, “Whoever drinks the water I give them will never thirst” (John 4:14)
- “Why do you spend money on what is not bread, and your labor on what does not satisfy?” (Isaiah 55:1).
- Jesus declares, “I am the bread of life. Whoever comes to me will never go hungry” (John 6:35)
Sin has no power to satisfy. Only God can satisfy.
It is interesting that in our text, God knows we have no money. And yet God invites us to buy wine and milk, and bread. What is that about? How can we buy anything when we have no money?
The banquet which God prepares for us, is one which we can only be invited to. We have no part in preparing the banquet. Only God has the power to prepare the banquet. The banquet is offered to us as a gift.
The banquet is the gift of eternal life in Jesus Christ.
- The wine, milk, and bread that God offers is his grace, mercy, and forgiveness.
- We cannot purchase these. We do not earn them.
- They are God’s to give. They are given by grace and grace alone.
But it is these gifts of God which alone satisfy.
So, “Why spend money (your efforts) on what is not bread, and your labor on what does not satisfy?”
“Come, all who are thirsty, come to the waters of grace. And you who have no money, come buy and eat! Come, buy wine and milk without money and without cost!”
It is all grace. It is all God.
Praxis: Faith in Action 