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Read this to your kids.

Isaiah 55:1–3 – Thirst

Jephemiah walked. He walked with his family. He was tired. He was eight. His whole family was tired. And they were all hungry. As they came around a bend in the road they found they were coming up to a town.

“Children, this is the town closest to our new home. We might be seeing a lot of it in the next few years.”

Jephemiah wondered if there was food in the town. He asked his dad, and his dad grimly said, “Most towns have food, and I’m sure this is no exception. The question is, will we have enough money to get any right now?”

They walked for a few seconds and then he stopped and looked down at his youngest son, smiled and said, “I hope so, Jeph. We’ll ask.”

“And something to drink? I’m thirsty!” stated younger sister Leyna. They’d found that there weren’t very many rivers or lakes in this region of the country. And the water they’d seen wasn’t good for drinking.

“Me, too, kids. Maybe there’s a well around here.”

So they walked into the town.
And they walked into the market in the town. It was a small market, all owned by one man.

Jephaniah didn’t like the man. His hair was stringy. His smile didn’t seem real. And pretty quickly he could see that his Mom, who he trusted, didn’t like him.

There was food at the market table, but it didn’t look very good. The bread looked dry and hard. The fruit did not look ripe, or it was too ripe – brown and spotted.

And there was a large jar of oily dirty water.

But Jephaniah would have eaten and drunk it. He would have eaten whatever food they could get. But …

But soon they were walking away. With just one small stale loaf of bread. Theresa, Jephaniah’s younger sister quietly asked him, “Why didn’t Dad get any more?”

And he answered, softly, “It will be enough. We’ll get other food somewhere.” But he didn’t know where.

And then father was splitting the loaf as they walked. Jephaniah saw that he saved very little of it for himself.

He took a bit. It was not good. It tasted like sand. Or sawdust. And there was not very much. But he ate.

“I’m really thirsty,” Reyna said. Jephaniah put his arm around her. He was thirsty, too.

“We will work really hard and then maybe we’ll get enough money to buy some good food. And enough food for all of us.”

They kept walking through the streets.

And then, as they were leaving town, there was a woman. She had grey hair. She was in a white dress. She said, “Welcome, young family. My name is Sophia – please let me bring you to the King’s market.”

They followed, but he saw little hope on the face of his parents. And that shrunk his hopes. And he thought, Yes, they’re right. If they didn’t have enough money for a cup of water, how could they afford anything the King might provide.

But still they were following. Around a corner, down the road. And Sophia pointed into a big tent with the mark of the Lamb on it.

They walked in and there were tables. Tables filled with food. And the servants smiled as they saw the family. And one said, “Come – you look hungry. Buy and eat. It is for you.”

“We have very little coin,” stated Jeph’s mother. And he expected the servants to frown and send them away.

But they kept smiling. “There is no cost. You need no coin. This is the King’s food and he gives it to you.”

There was a moment of hope for Jephaniah, but also of doubt. How could that be? He saw that his parents were feeling the same way. They seemed hesitant.

But one of the servants said, “It is no trick. We have good food for you and we asking nothing from you in return. Come, eat and drink.”

And as they watched, another servant took a large pitcher, and filled a wooden cup with water – it looked pure, clean and clear. And she handed it to Leyna.

Leyna looked at the glass. She looked at her Father. And he nodded.

So she drank. She took a big gulp.

“It’s good!”

And she drank more. And then she sighed, “I was so thirsty!”

Jephaniah saw that the servant had filled several cups and laid them on the table. He took one and he drank.

And then one of the servants was leading them to a table that had lots of good bread. And butter. And cheese and honey.

“This market is always open and you can come take at any time.”

Their dad was looking around. “I’m afraid I don’t understand this. Isn’t there a cost for this food?”
“Oh yes, but the King has paid for it.”

Jephaniah’s dad nodded. And he smiled. And he took.

They sat down at a small table and ate. And an hour later, Jephaniah was carrying a big bag of grain as they walked home. He had a big smile on his face. And Leyna asked what he was already thinking: “Why would anyone get food at that other market?”

“Come, everyone who thirsts,
come to the waters;
and he who has no money,
come, buy and eat!
Come, buy wine and milk
without money and without price.
Why do you spend your money for that which is not bread,
and your labor for that which does not satisfy?
Listen diligently to me, and eat what is good,
and delight yourselves in rich food.
Incline your ear, and come to me;
hear, that your soul may live;

You have no money to buy what God offers. But God knows that. Take his gifts. They are good and they satisfy.

What gifts does God offer you?

Other passages to consider: Proverbs 1:20-22

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