Isaiah 1

Isaiah 1:2—“I reared children and brought them up, but they have rebelled against me.” I know several parents who brought up their children to know God, but the children have chosen to rebel. Even God’s children rebelled against Him. So, parents keep praying fervently for your prodigal children, but quit beating yourselves up about it. As our children grow up, they become responsible for their own choices. Let’s follow God’s example of loving our children continuously, but remember that sometimes our children need tough love. Be sure you are not enabling your children to continue living in sin. Get out of the way and let God have His way in their lives.

Isaiah 1:13—“Stop bringing meaningless offerings!” Ouch. Anyone else feel convicted? I think our poor excuses for not serving and worshiping wholeheartedly are meaningless offerings. “Sorry I didn’t have time to do Bible study this week. I was just too tired.” “Sorry I didn’t come to church for worship. I had a long week at work.” “Sorry I can’t help with that mission project. I have to stay home and watch Dancing with the Stars.”

Isaiah 1:15—“When you spread out your hands in prayer, I will hide my eyes from you; even if you offer many prayers, I will not listen.” Have you ever been guilty of telling someone God always hears their prayers? I have. According to this scripture, God will not listen to us when we have sin in our lives. Verses 16-17 say, “Stop doing wrong, learn to do right!” Until we confess and turn from our sin, God is not obligated to listen to us. By the way, God is not obligated to give us everything we ask for, even when we have made ourselves clean before Him. In America, we feel entitled to whatever pleases us. We act like spoiled brats when God doesn’t give us the answer we want when we want it. That’s dangerous!

Isaiah 1:18—“Come now, let us reason together,” says the LORD. “Though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they are red as crimson, they shall be like wool.” I love this verse! God wants to heal the relationship we have with Him. He does not want our sin to be an obstacle in our lives. So, He offers us the perfect solution. Through the blood of Christ, God washes our sins away and makes us clean. All we have to do is come to Him as humble children, and He will forgive us completely. Why do we make it difficult? Verse 19 says we must be “willing and obedient.” Instead, we “resist and rebel” as in verse 20. Oh, stubborn heart. . . .

The relationship between God and His people became a vicious cycle, and Isaiah 1:21-31 describes it well. The people would sin (v. 21-23), and God would wipe them out (v. 24-25). Then God would restore His people to righteousness (25-27), but the people would return to their familiar sins (v. 28-31). Do you and I have any familiar sins we slip back into after God has faithfully restored our relationship with Him? Pray and ask the Holy Spirit to reveal any pet sins in your life. Ask Him to cleanse your heart and teach you to do right. Stay faithful to God one day at a time. The rewards will be great!

We will read Isaiah chapters 2 & 6 next. Thanks for reading along.