"Listen, O heavens, and hear, O earth; for the LORD speaks, 'Sons I have reared and brought up, but they have revolted against Me. An ox its owner, and a donkey its master's manger, but Israel does not know, My people do not understand.'"
Isaiah 1:2-3
Oh how I can understand Israel's relationship with The Lord. I have been given so very much, in Christ, I have been given everything. Yet, there is so much I don't know, understand and trust about my Master and Lord. Israel revolted and sometimes I do to. The faithfulness, grace and patience of our God is so clear all throughout the Old Testament because there is always the Promise of Hope and Redemption to come...there is a thread of the promised Seed, Jesus, from the very beginning.
How's my life looking in regards to this example today though? Do I "know" my owner and master like the ox and donkey? If a dumb non-thinking animal knows its master, how about me? Of course we are much more radically loved than any ox or donkey and we have been given so much more as well! Shouldn't my love and knowledge produce so much more? It should but it doesn't always.
I am very thankful that I am not tossed out in my revolt....or slaughtered as if I am a rebellious donkey! Instead, The Lord is patient and gracious and faithful as He was to Israel. So He is to me.
