ENOUGH OF BURNT OFFERINGS

FRIDAY 30

“To what purpose is the multitude of your sacrifices to Me?” Says the Lord. “I have had enough of burnt offerings of rams And the fat of fed cattle. I do not
delight in the blood of bulls, Or of lambs or goats.”
Isaiah 1:11 (NKJV)

READ: Isaiah 1:5–20

In our text, we could see that God is not craving for, or fond of, or obsessed with sacrifices that would be brought, or that are being brought by the people. God was asking that to what purpose were the sacrifices being brought by the Israelites. He said He has had enough of them; burnt offerings of rams and the fat of fed cattle. He said He does not delight in the blood of bulls, or lambs or goats (Isaiah 1:11). God was saying He has not required that from them, to begin with (Isaiah 1:12).

God sternly told the Israelites not to bring futile or worthless sacrifices to Him again. The incense is abomination to Him (Isaiah 1:13). He also said their festive gatherings; the New Moons, the Sabbaths, and the calling of assemblies are not necessary. God said He cannot endure iniquity and the sacred meeting (Isaiah 1:13). The point God was making is that He cannot withstand the iniquity of the people, and at the same time their sacred or holy meetings. The same people who are entrenched in iniquity are the same people gathering for sacred meetings (Isaiah 1:13).

God further said their New Moons and appointed feasts, His soul hates. He said such are a trouble to Him, and He is weary of bearing them (Isaiah 1:14).

As a result of their hypocrisy—their hypocritical life—He will hide His eyes from them, even if they make many
prayers, He will not hear, because their hands are full of blood (Isaiah 1:15).

We could see that God does not compromise holiness (1 Peter 1:15,16).

God would not want you to be secretly living in sin and at same time be presenting yourself as a fervent believer before Him. God would not condone your hanky-panky or insincerity, your double-dealing. God wants whoever is calling on His name to depart from iniquity (2 Timothy 2:19).

Because the Israelites’ hands are full of blood, He will not hear them, that is, He will not answer their prayers (Isaiah 1:15).

• What should the people, the Israelites, do?
• How would they receive God’s favour back?
• How can they come back to God and once again have a relationship and fellowship with Him?

God told them:

I. They should wash themselves and make themselves clean (Isaiah 1:16).
II. They should put away the evil of their doings before God’s eyes. In other words, they should cease to do evil (Isaiah 1:16).
III. They should learn and cultivate to do good; seek justice, rebuke the oppressor, defend the fatherless, and plead for the widow (Isaiah 1:17).

We could see what the Israelites needed to do to be received back by God—reconciled back to Him.

This also is applicable to every believer who has erred from God in his relationship and fellowship with Him.
Your activities in your local church could only matter and be delightful to God when you walk in righteousness and holiness (1 Peter 1:15,16).

There are some so-called professed believers who live in sin, iniquity, but are covering their shortcomings with
their activities in the church or ministry they belong (2 Timothy 2:19).

You may be serving in the kingdom, however, if your personal relationship and fellowship with God are not right, your services are wasted! It is not enough to be fervent in the things of God, your fervency had to be with purity.

How would you be living in sin and at the same time claiming to be working for God, No, the two do not go together, they are not compatible (Romans 6:1,2).

The Israelites were double-dealing, likewise many contemporary believers; iniquities are found in their lives, and they are at the same time present in the holy gatherings.

Any number of believers are fervent in their church programmes or meetings, but their Christian life is nothing to write home about—their fellowship or communion with God is already lost.

If you are like that, repent today and retrace your steps back to God—He is waiting for you (Luke 15:18–24).

Reflect:
• Has your worship become mere burnt offerings—many sacrifices but hands full of blood and a heart far from God?

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