1The vision of Isaiah the son of Amoz, which he saw concerning Judah and Jerusalem, in the days of Uzziah, Jotham, Ahaz, and Hezekiah, kings of Judah.
2Hear, heavens,
and listen, earth; for Yahweh has spoken:
“I have nourished and brought up children
and they have rebelled against me.
3The ox knows his owner,
and the donkey his master’s crib;
but Israel doesn’t know.
My people don’t consider.”
I’m sure someone has asked you “Do you want to hear the good news or the bad news first?” How often have you asked for the bad news before the good news? Isaiah begins with the impact of the bad news, starting with the state of affairs of God’s Old Testament people. God’s children had become separated from God. Their confession of faith had become little more than words from their mouths and not a reflection of their heart. Sin had led Israel into recklessness and ignorance. Even God’s own people were less knowledgeable about their God than an ox of its master or a donkey of its owner’s manger.
When we allow God’s image to become corrupt in our minds, it clouds our judgement and view of who He is. Our minds no longer have the ability to adequately know God or his ways.
In response, God offers his heart-rending lament: “Israel does not know, my people do not understand (NIV).” Sin has such a destructive impact on our minds. God’s report is quite condemning: “I reared children and brought them up, but they have rebelled against me. The ox knows his master, the donkey his owner’s manger, but Israel does not know, my people do not understand.”
Isaiah’s words here bring us right to the birth of Christ, when he was surrounded by shepherds who did know the manger of their Lord (Luke 2:4-20). May our devotionals this week bring us to the same place of understanding and worship.