Come to the Waters

 

Scripture

 Isaiah 55:1-9

55 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.
² Why do you spend your money for that which is not bread,
    and your labor for that which does not satisfy?
Listen carefully to me, and eat what is good,
    and delight yourselves in rich food.
³ Incline your ear, and come to me;
    listen, so that you may live.
I will make with you an everlasting covenant,
    my steadfast, sure love for David.
⁴ See, I made him a witness to the peoples,
    a leader and commander for the peoples.
⁵ See, you shall call nations that you do not know,
    and nations that do not know you shall run to you,
because of the Lord your God, the Holy One of Israel,
    for he has glorified you.

⁶ Seek the Lord while he may be found,
    call upon him while he is near;
⁷ let the wicked forsake their way,
    and the unrighteous their thoughts;
let them return to the Lord, that he may have mercy on them,
    and to our God, for he will abundantly pardon.
⁸ For my thoughts are not your thoughts,
    nor are your ways my ways, says the Lord.
⁹ For as the heavens are higher than the earth,
    so are my ways higher than your ways
    and my thoughts than your thoughts.  (NRSV)

 

Devotion

 The Revised Common Lectionary's recommended reading from Isaiah for this past Sunday is always pulls at my heart-strings.  Here, the prophet passes along God's plea for the people to come to him in their time of need.  "Why," God asks, "do you spend your money and labor on things that cannot satisfy your needs when I am right here?  Why won't you come partake of the rich banquet that I have to offer?"

God's impassioned questions passing through Isaiah's lips points to the most tragic flaws in our sinful, human conditions.  We have so many woes and need so many things from God.  God is ready to help with all of them.  But even as famished and parched as we are, we find plenty of reasons not to eat the rich food or drink the abundant water God calls us to come enjoy.   In the words of the 12th century proverb, "You can lead a horse to water, but you can't make it drink."

So why do we reject God's offer?  Sometimes, we don't like the truths that are attached to those gifts.  Sometimes we don't that God's gifts are indeed free and don't want to pay some "hidden" price.  Sometimes Sometimes we think we see a better, more satisfying option out there--though that image always turns out to be a mirage.  Sometimes, we are simply too stubborn to admit that we need help or that God knows better than we do.  Whatever the "surface" reason for turning down God's offer, the problem at the heart of things is that that we don't trust God know and/or wants what is best for us.  And if we cannot trust the knowledge and motives of our Almighty Creator, Redeemer, and Sustainer, then we can we trust?

Whatever doubts, fears, or self-centered reasons we have abstained from "coming to the waters," we don't have to keep giving into them.  God remains ready to give us everything we spiritually need if only we return to him.  When we are finally ready admit that God's thoughts and ways are better than our own, then we can drink of the life-giving waters God has to offer.  As we do so, God forgives us for rejecting him and makes us an example for others, so that all the world can come to know God's love and mercy.

As we journey ever-closer to the cross this Lent, I encourage you to listen to God's heart-felt plea in Isaiah.  Let go of whatever doubt, anger, fear, stubbornness, or pride that keeps you from coming to God's water.  Trust that God's Word and the salvation that accompanies it are without any hidden conditions or costs. That God's water can quench any thirst,  And when you find yourselves standing before that water, don't just look at it.   Be the horse that drinks deeply.  As you do so, God will quench your soul's deepest thirst.  

 

Prayer

 Jesus, I want to drink of your life-giving water.  Help me set aside everything that keeps me from coming to you.  Amen.