A glimpse of God ‘ s emotion (Isaiah 1-4)

Every other time I've read through the Bible I've had a hard time grasping Isaiah.  I'm not ready to claim that this time through will be any different, but I do feel a better understanding after having just read of Uziah's stupidity as a leader and the failure of the majority of Israel's and Judah's kings to lead in a way that brought honor to the Lord.  As a pastor of students I have spoken with a number of parents who are grieved by the choices their kids have made.  I think God used that analogy to help people understand the grief He felt as a result of Israel's rebelliousness.  He cared deeply for His people and tried to direct them in the right way, but just as a rebellious teenager saddens his parents, so Israel saddened God by their disobedience to His commandments.  The words in 1:11 are incredible: "I do not delight in the blood of bulls, or of lambs, or of goat."  God didn't want there to have to be sacrifices for sins; He did it as an act of mercy on His people.  God's desire all along was for obedience.  I think we miss that sometimes in our culture.  We tend to embrace the mantra that Paul spoke so vehemently against: grace is license to sin.  God desires obedience more than anything else.  More than flashy worship or gifted speakers; more than routine attendance or heartless repentance.  God has always desired obedience – since the beginning of humanity.  Sadly, the one thing God desires is often the thing He does not get.  True repentance leads to ultimate obedience, and sin grieves God.