In eastern countries water has often to be purchased, for only in a few cities can it be piped directly into the houses. So water carriers are needed and they go through the streets crying out, “He ya, ‘atchan, tahaloo yishraboo,” which means, “Ho, ye thirsty ones, come and drink!”
This is just such as the prophet Isaiah utters in chapter 55 of his prophecy:
“Ho, every one that thirsteth, come ye to the waters.”
The water carrier sells the water he carries, and in this we find a great difference to what Isaiah cries, for he says:
“And he that hath no money: com eye, buy ... without money and without price.”
The water carrier often meets a group of children playing. They are thirsty but have no money to buy. Sometimes a kindly passerby wishing to do a helpful deed will pay for all the water which the carrier has; and now the children are invited to come and drink freely for nothing.
Then the carrier will alter his cry and shout out, “Ho, ye thirsty ones, come and drink today for nothing. The water is free!”
This is the true gospel cry. Christ has paid. Now the water of life is free.
ML-07/07/1974