Read Isaiah Chapter 1:2-3 ESV Study Bible
Crosswaybibles.org Copywrite 2008 ESV text edition 2011
Hear, O heavens, and give ear, O earth; for the LORD has spoken:
Children have I reared and brought up,
but they 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.
Highlight in yellow the words or phrases that stick out to you in the above mentioned passage.
Who or what is the LORD initially speaking to in this passage and do you think that these two verses could relate to us at this present time.
What is the importance of the “ox knowing its owner” and “the donkey knowing its master’s crib” and” Israel does not know” and “my people do not understand”.
INTERESTING WORD FACTS:
- Crib in the Hebrew/Greek Lexicon or in Strong’s Concordance Number h18 the transliteration: ebus the root of this word comes from ‘abac = manger or stall
So, when using the phrase “the donkey knowing its master’s crib” I can understand it as the donkey knowing its master’s manger.
Who do you suppose is the donkey’s master in this context and reflect on the story of Balaam’s donkey found in Numbers 22:22-41?
Who is the donkey’s master in both cases?
Now, note all the New Testament passages where the description of both the manger and donkey are found.
What this says to me personally is that in the bottom of verse 3 where it says that Israel does not know and my people do not understand is repeated in John 1:10-13 and write it out below:
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What does this mean to you and the world we live in today?
Read Isaiah 1:4 ESV focusing on the following part of the verse:
They have forsaken the LORD, they have despised the Holy One of Israel, they are utterly estranged.
In what ways have you forsaken and despised the LORD in your everyday life and come back on Sunday singing the songs or going to every meeting that is available but your heart is far from the LORD to the point you are estranged from HIM?
Now read verses 5-6 out loud and insert your name , city, or nation in the place of saying “you” for example:
“Why will ______ still be struck down? Why will _________ continue to rebel? The whole head is sick and the whole heart faint. From the sole of the foot to the head, there is no soundness in it, but bruises and sores and raw wounds.They are not pressed out or bound up or soften with oil.
What is the LORD saying to you about the condition of the people of GOD as a nation and the world we live in right now:
Solace with GOD:
Dear Father, I ask that each of my readers will take some time to allow you to speak into their lives today by not only study but also soul searching as you have begun in my heart today.
In Christ’s mighty name Amen!
Living Fountain 