Isaiah Insights #1
Warren E. Berkley – wberkley.podbean.com
Rebellious Children, Isa. 1:2
God’s people in Judah and Jerusalem are “on trial.” God is the Judge as well as the offended party, with His servant Isaiah announcing the case against the people. This was during the reigns of kings Uzziah, Jotham, Ahaz and Hezekiah, kings of Judah. The offended party is the Heavenly Father, disappointed in His children.
Hear, O heavens, and give ear, O earth; for the Lrod has spoken: “Children have I rearerd and brought up, but they have rebelled against me.”
The first step into this passage is emotional, especially for parents. And most especially for parents who have known this disappointment.
There is that natural affection of mothers and fathers for their children. This prompts desire, effort, work and hope. This is why parents become engaged with instruction, influence, wise discipline, warmth and all good provision for their children. Inside all this work there is hope, that the children will be responsive and sensible. That they will grow up to be mature and useful adults, that the hope of the parents might be realized and satisfying.
Yet, in spite of all effort and prayer otherwise, since children have free will, disappointment is a very real possibility. There is no heartache like it; no stress that compares, when parents realize their children have chosen a destructive path in life.
This resembles how God felt about His people in Judah and Jerusalem in the time of Isaiah and these kings.
Now, God was and is the perfect parent, the Father in heaven. He formed a nation from the offspring of His servant, Abraham. He brought them out of bondage. He gave them law and leaders and guidance and promises.
Their response? They rebelled against their Father. Isaiah’s duty was to convey to these wayward children, the deep disappointment of their Father.
Pause here for self-examination. Am I pleasing my Father? Is He disappointed in how I’ve turned out? The way out of rebellion is repentance.
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