Isaiah - Verse By Verse

Isaiah - Day 11

versebyverse | May 18, 2008 16:41

Scripture:  Isaiah 1:11 (NIV):  " 'The multitude of your sacrifices--what are they to me?' says the LORD.  'I have more than enough of burnt offerings, of rams and the fat of fattened animals; I have no pleasure in the blood of bulls and lambs and goats'."

Thought:  To me, God has plenty to be angry about regarding His wayward children.

Question:  Are my motives pure when I give to God?

God never wanted the blood of animals alone.  What kind of god wants such a thing?  God wanted hearts of men, broken open and vulnerable through sacrifices, to be offered to Him.  Can you imagine how disgusting the vain sacrifices became to God?  It would be like handing one of our children the skins of an orange to eat instead of the sweet fruit.  And we too, often give God something else than what He really wants.  How disappointed God must be with our phony attemps at "worship".  He has "more than enough" of them.  Quantity is no replacement for quality.  How maddening it must be for God to view our vain religiosity as we go through empty ritual. 

We sense God's growing anger:  we can hear clearly that He has had "more than enough" and that He has "no pleasure" in our behaviors.  The suspense is growing--what will God do now?  Does this precipitate any fear in us at all?  Have we recognized at all that we are completely off course with our Creator?

Prayer:  LORD God, help me to understand how to worship You accurately through authentic sacrifice.  Help me to yield my innermost heart as my most important gift to You.  Amen. 

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