God Our Hero – Isaiah 1:2-4

There is a question/answer session quarterback Tom Brady is holding on media day before the 2017 Super Bowl, and it always gets to me. A kid sitting on his dad’s shoulders asks Tom who his hero is. Go ahead, check it out. Who is your hero? Who has helped you in life?

Isaiah is asking that question, in effect, of Israel, knowing the answer should be their God, but also knowing that is not what they believe.

Hear, O heavens, and give ear, O earth; for the LORD has spoken: “Children have I reared and brought up, but they have rebelled against me.   The ox knows its owner, and the donkey its master’s crib, but Israel does not know, my people do not understand.” 

Ah, sinful nation, a people laden with iniquity, offspring of evildoers, children who deal corruptly! They have forsaken the LORD, they have despised the Holy One of Israel, they are utterly estranged. (Isaiah 1:2-4 ESV)

How could there be a better parent than God?  He created us and intricately wove us in our mothers’ wombs.  How would we not honor Him as our loving father and follow His commands?  But like Israel we often find reasons (excuses) for rebelling against Him.  Even a dumb animal knows the hand that feeds it.

Israel has come to a point at this time in her history where she is pulling a cart full of iniquity and wondering why things are so hard.  She deals corruptly, looking out only for personal gain, no matter who it hurts. Her business people care more about profit than the poor. They’re concerned more for comfort than for justice.

By forsaking Yahweh, the Holy One of Israel, Israel has forsaken her lifeline and become utterly estranged from Him.  And if we do the same we are shameful children whose course is set for destruction. What! Is there reason to believe that God is concerned about nations other than Israel, and that He holds these nations to account for their behaviors and beliefs? Isaiah will show us that He is.

What are our sins? Do we have business people who care more about profit than the poor? Do we care about the poor? Do we have people who are more concerned about their comfort than justice for those who have no comfort? Are we more upset that our TV show is pre-empted by “breaking news” than we are that people are suffering in isolation from coronavirus exposure? Do we really look to God as a nation for moral judgment or even help in times of suffering? Do we know the Hand that feeds us?

Discussion Questions

1. Who in your life was faithful to teach and train you as a child and help you become a kind and responsible adult?
2. How have you acknowledged this person for what they did?
3. Should we Christians take any responsibility for the rebellious stance we see many in our nation take against God?
4. In what ways have we been influenced we by the mold of our culture, for good and for bad?
5. Is there an injustice God has made you aware of in this world that you are trying to do something about?
6. What would you say to God about how He has “raised” you?