Friday
Ho, everyone who thirsts, come to the waters; and you that have no money, come, buy and eat! Come, buy wine and milk without money and without price. (v. 1)
Background
Clean drinking water is one of God’s greatest gifts to God’s people and to be without it is life-threatening. Water is indispensable for health, cleanliness and growing food, and, in a hot and dry land, knowing where to find it is critical. Put crudely, to be without water is to die. It is thought-provoking to reflect on how many important events and interactions in Scripture happen at wells and other sources of water. And it is sobering to recognise how easily water can become weaponised in situations of conflict such as those taking place now in the Middle East.
The book of Isaiah is thought to have had several authors and these verses are attributed to Deutero-Isaiah (literally the 'second Isaiah') whose task was to comfort and encourage a people who had been forced into exile. They had been taken away from all that was familiar and needed to be reassured that God was still with them and caring for them. His message was that of the English mystic, Julian of Norwich: "All shall be well and all manner of things shall be well." Right through to the end of this chapter, the tone is one of confidence in God and God’s purposes.
The prophet affirmed that water is both priceless and without cost. It is there for the taking – as are milk and wine, with all the associations these have for us in terms of nurture and communion. Jesus referred to himself as 'living water' (John 4:13-14 and 7:37-38) and he offered wine as a symbol of his blood shed for the salvation of those who believe (Matthew 26:27-28; Mark 14:24; Luke 22:20). Milk is associated with initiation into the faith – note what Paul writes to the young church in Corinth (1 Corinthians 3:2).
Isaiah is making it clear that God’s gift of salvation is available to all who come – the price has been paid, the gift is free.
To Ponder:
- Today reflect on whether you might be imposing conditions on people seeking a closer relationship with God.
- In your personal experience, what has it meant to avail of the absolutely free offer of salvation?
Prayer
Loving God, thank you for your free offer of salvation and give me the grace to proclaim to others something of your boundless generosity. Amen.