Sinful Condition - "The Ox knows its owner, and the donkey its master's crib..."

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 “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. Why will you still be struck down? Why will you continue to rebel?"  [Isaiah 1:4-5]

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Sinful Condition

Sometimes when people are especially sinful we speak of them as behaving like animals. Isaiah said, in effect, “I wish I could say Israel was acting like animals.” At least animals have the instincts to do what is best for themselves. But sin causes human beings to act against their own best interests –even when they’re trying to be selfish!

The people of Israel were God’s chosen ones, his children. He cared and provided for them and protected them. Most important he loved them.  But they were like ungrateful children, rebellious against his authority, as well as his commands to maintain a just society and to worship only him.

The Lord does not accept ignorance as an excuse. Even ignorant animals knew better than God’s people. Their ignorant rebellion hurt them.

Later in his prophecy, Isaiah warned of judgment, and then he promised deliverance, including the coming of Christ. But first, he made a case for the seriousness of sin for how hurtful it is. We should listen too; we’re just as sinful as the Israelites, and we still need a Savior.




"The Ox knows its owner, and the donkey its master's crib..."

 “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.””  [Isaiah 1:2-3]

Ox and Donkey