“Meddle not with them . . . because I have given mount Sier unto Esau for a possession. Ye shall buy meat of them for money, that ye may eat; and ye shall buy water of them for money, that ye may drink” (Deuteronomy 2: 5, 6 KJV).
Years ago, when bottled water began appearing on store shelves for sale, I thought it was a new phenomenon. And it was for our day. Capitalism has reached a new level when the most readily available liquid to most people is marketed in different size bottles with different flavors and other additives infused in it. Fewer and fewer people are drinking the water from the tap, but instead are drinking bottled water.
When I read my Bible, I found out that there’s nothing new about selling water. When Israel passed through the land that belonged to Esau’s descendents, they were not to war with them to possess their land, for God had given them that land. But they offered to buy meat and water from them in order to continue on their journey.
In the dry arid land of Canaan, water was scarce, but the land of Edom was well watered with abundant pasturage. Nevertheless, we find that Edom would not allow Israel to pass through his land, nor would he sell them meat or water, but instead came out to oppose them (Num. 20: 14-21).
It isn’t clear whether Israel got any water or not. Moses asked Sihon, king of Heshbon, later if he would sell Israel meat and water as the children of Esau had done (Num. 2: 29).
I’m reminded of the universal call sent out by God for men who are thirsty and have no money to come and drink of the Living Water — “Ho, every one that is thirsty, come ye to the waters, and he that hath no money; come ye, buy (the price for admission to eternal life is repentance and faith), and eat; yea, come, buy wine and milk without money and without price” (Is.55: 1). This invitation is given again in the last chapter of the book of Revelation. “And the Spirit and the bride say, Come. And let him that heareth say, Come. And let him that is athirst come. And whosoever will, let him take the water of life freely” (Rev. 22: 17).
Water that you will thirst again for is for sale, but Living Water is “a well of water springing up into everlasting life” (Jn. 4: 14) or salvation of the soul is not for sale. It is free to all who are thirsty and who receive it through repentance of sin and faith in Jesus Christ (Acts 20: 21).
