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Answer
The Lord, through the prophet Isaiah, invites all who are “thirsty” to come to Him: “Ho, everyone that thirsteth, come ye to the waters, and he that hath no money; come ye, buy, and eat; yea, come, buy wine and milk without money and without price.”, (Isaiah 55:1). In His goodness, the Lord offers them “wine and milk without money and without cost.” God then highlights the foolishness of chasing after that which doesn’t satisfy, asking, “Why spend money on what is not bread, and your labor on what does not satisfy? Listen, listen to me, and eat what is good, and you will delight in the richest of fare” (verse 2). Only God can truly give His people what they are striving after. The irony is that we often squander our resources on things of no spiritual value, rather than take what God offers for free.
The “bread” mentioned in Isaiah 55:2 is a metaphor for spiritual sustenance—what our souls truly need. To “spend money” on something other than this “bread” is to ignore our malnourished spiritual condition and seek satisfaction in things that can never feed the soul. Commentator Matthew Poole defines the “not bread” as “those vain or foolish things which can never nourish or satisfy, such as worldly goods, or your own inventions, superstitions, and idolatries” (A Commentary on the Holy Bible, entry for Isaiah 55:2).
A simpler translation renders part of Isaiah 55:2 this way: “Why spend money on what does not satisfy?” (GNT). God’s people were running after things that could not satisfy, such as worthless idols (see Jeremiah 2:5). Today, people do the same by seeking after wealth, fame, or material goods to make themselves happy and fulfilled. The problem is that none of these things can truly satisfy. Only God can satisfy the need of our souls, for He offers the gift that will sustain a person forever:Salvation. Unlike the costly and vain pursuits that people run after, God’s gift of salvation is offered freely (Isaiah 55:6-7; Ephesians 2:8-9). All people can partake in this offer by placing faith in Jesus’ death and resurrection (1 Corinthians 15:1-4).
Isaiah 55 shows the heart of God to save His people. Jesus’ later invitations for all to come to Him similarly reflect God’s desire to save (Matthew 5:6; Matthew 11:28; John 6:37). Using the metaphor of Isaiah 55:2, Jesus refers to Himself as the “bread of life” «Then Jesus said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Moses gave you not that bread from heaven; but my Father giveth you the true bread from heaven. », (John 6:32, 35) «And Jesus said unto them, I am the bread of life: he that cometh to me shall never hunger; and he that believeth on me shall never thirst. », (John 6:32, 35), a sharp contrast to “that which is not bread.” Jesus declared, “Do not work for the food that perishes, but for the food that endures to eternal life, which the Son of Man will give to you” «Labour not for the meat which perisheth, but for that meat which endureth unto everlasting life, which the Son of man shall give unto you: for him hath God the Father sealed. », (John 6:27, ESV). Jesus promised true satisfaction; those who come to Him “will never go hungry” (verse 35). Additionally, Jesus repeats the idea of satiating spiritual thirst in John 4:10 and 13–14 (cf. Revelation 22:17).
The “richest fare” God offers in Isaiah 55:2
Represents His abundant blessings on His people. He is prepared to rescue, if only individuals would turn to Him in repentance and faith. When individuals seek Him for salvation, they discover that He is “forgiving and kind, overflowing in love to all who call to [Him]” «For thou, Lord, art good, and ready to forgive; And plenteous in mercy unto all them that call upon thee. », (Psalm 86:5).
The inquiry in Isaiah, “Why spend money on what is not bread?” is deserving of serious thought. Laboring for things in this world that will not satisfy is as futile as buying food that will not nourish. Pursuing fleeting pleasures, material possessions, and achievements is pointless; none of those things will endure (Ecclesiastes 1:14;Matthew 24:35;1 John 2:17). The apostle Paul considered all his previous religious achievements as worthless or trash compared to knowing Christ (Philippians 3:4-8). Only Jesus can supply what we require.
It is feasible to lead a life of continual spending without ever discovering contentment. Fortunately, it is also feasible to lead a life of continual receiving without spending anything. It’s the worldly life of disbelief versus the godly life of faith. The Lord continues to invite people to come to Him for salvation and relief from their toil (Hebrews 4:1-11). Believers should assess their lives to determine if they are relying on God’s provision or wasting time in temporary pursuits. How foolish to spend money on what is not “bread”! How wise to invest our resources in storing up treasures in heaven (Matthew 6:19-21)!
