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 (Isa 55:1).

We see another important aspect of creation work that God did for us. This way of description belongs to type 2 of creation in Gen 2 and 3: it begins with a condition without water, and creation occurs with the springing up of water. The above oracle begins with the picture of drought and a famine. The verb to buy is shavar, which means to ‘buy grain for food.’ The phrase, “Wine and milk,” symbolizes the productiveness of the land as God’s blessings. It helps if you realize that the way to buy grain without paying money is reminiscent of the story of Jacob’s sons who went to Joseph in Egypt to buy grain (Gen 42-45): each time, their money was returned to them! Obviously, Joseph is a type of Christ.

Why spend money on what is not bread,

and your labor on what does not satisfy (v. 2a)?

Here, God speaks of something beyond physical bread. People spend so much money and time trying to get what they eat and what satisfies them that they die actually without getting what they really need and what really satisfies them.

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

and your soul will delight in the richest of fare (v. 2b).

Here, the word shama’ (to hear) is used twice—once in imperative and another in infinitive—showing a strong emphasis: “Listen and listen,” or “Make sure you listen.” Listening to God and his word is the first step we need to take.

Give ear and come to me;

hear (shama’) me, that your soul may live.

I will make an everlasting covenant with you,

my faithful love promised to David (v. 3).

Note, here, another imperative “come to me” in addition to “listen” and “give ear.” When this oracle was given, the Jews were in the Babylonian captivity. To go to God meant to return to him through repentance. The best illustration of this going back to God is found in the parable of the lost son.

When he came to his senses, he said, “How many of my father's hired men have food to spare, and here I am starving to death (v. 17)! …

This son came to remember how good and generous his father was. He wanted to go back to his father, but he had committed a terrible sin against the father.

… I will set out and go back to my father and say to him: Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you. I am no longer worthy to be called your son; make me like one of your hired men.” So he got up and went to his father (vv. 18-20a).

It was good that he decided to go back to his father.

But while he was still a long way off, his father saw him and was filled with compassion for him; he ran to his son, threw his arms around him and kissed him. The son said to him, “Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you. I am no longer worthy to be called your son (vv. 20-21).”

From this point, the parable is silent as to what this son did or said. And read the next part, and meditate upon it.

But the father said to his servants, “Quick! Bring the best robe and put it on him. Put a ring on his finger and sandals on his feet. Bring the fattened calf and kill it. Let's have a feast and celebrate (vv. 22-23). …

I wonder how this younger son reacted to all this that the father did for him. Did he refuse to receive what the father offered him? No, he accepted and received everything given to him. Did he pay for it? No, a thousand times no! He had nothing to pay with. All he did was that he repented, and went back to the father.