Isaiah 55:1 Hey, all who are thirsty, come to the water!
You who have no money, come!
Buy and eat!
Come! Buy wine and milk without money
and without cost!
God’s story with the people of Israel is a complex one. He saves them, he loves them, he allows pretty awful things to happen to them. But, Isaiah 55 is a chapter to remember when you personally need to be reminded that God’s love is available for you. Hey, all who are thirsty, come to the water.
For God is a giver of what we need. And we are thirsty people. As complex as humans are, it seems to me we need some basic things – water, is one of them, and I don’t mean in those little plastic bottles that seem to be everywhere. Cold, clean water is the most delicious thing when we thirst, isn’t it? Well, the people of Israel were thirsting – they needed to be reminded that God provides. Their complicated relationship with God can mirror ours sometimes. God knows what we need, God desires to keep us from sin, and God shakes his head sometimes at the choices we make.
But water, the essence of what we need at a basic level – that’s what God offers here, in abundance, and free.
Friends, life is hard, and bad things happen pretty frequently. But God loves us, in abundance, and offers what we need for our basic needs, as well. Rest in the abundance of God, just for today, won’t you? The hard questions and problems will wait for tomorrow. Be quenched today.
bless you friends. see you at church at Holy Cross Lutheran in Salem, Sunday, March 24th at 9:30 am, at 1998 Lansing Ave NE, Salem, OR 97301