When was the last time you said thank you to Jesus just because? When was the last time you told Him you loved Him, just because? When was the last time you sat alone with Him without complaining, or asking for stuff for yourself or anyone else? When was the last time you just sat at His feet like Mary, or poured out your gratitude like costly perfume on His nailed scarred feet? When was the last time you became so overwhelmed by His presence , that you just wept, but it wasn’t tears of sadness or because you had messed up, but just because...thinking of His goodness brought you to tears? Selah
God was having a discourse with Israel in the book of Isaiah. He pretty much recounted His mercy and faithfulness to expose Israel’s ingratitude and unfaithfulness towards Him. Sometimes when we’ve received too much we become calloused. And not until or unless something drastic happens, do we remember how good God has been. In Isaiah 43 we hear the heart of the Father being poured out to blessed but ungrateful people.
“This is what the Lord says—your Redeemer, the Holy One of Israel: “For your sakes I will send an army against Babylon, forcing the Babylonians to flee in those ships they are so proud of. I Am the Lord, your Holy One, Israel’s Creator and King. I Am the Lord, who opened a way through the waters, making a dry path through the sea. I called forth the mighty army of Egypt with all its chariots and horses. I drew them beneath the waves, and they drowned, their lives snuffed out like a smoldering candlewick. “But forget all that— it is nothing compared to what I am going to do. For I am about to do something new. See, I have already begun! Do you not see it? I will make a pathway through the wilderness. I will create rivers in the dry wasteland.
The wild animals in the fields will thank Me, the jackals and owls, too, for giving them water in the desert.
Yes, I will make rivers in the dry wasteland so My chosen people can be refreshed. I have made Israel for Myself, and they will someday honor Me before the whole world. “
But
, dear family of Jacob, you refuse to ask for My help. You have grown tired of Me, O Israel! You have not brought Me sheep or goats for burnt offerings. You have not honored Me with sacrifices, though I have not burdened and wearied you with requests for grain offerings and frankincense. You have not brought Me fragrant calamus or pleased Me with the fat from sacrifices. Instead, you have burdened Me with your sins and wearied Me with your faults.”
Isaiah 43:14-24 NLT
What stood out to me in those verses is what I underlined. The wild animals honored Him for providing for them, yet His image bearers enjoyed the blessings but showed no gratitude for what He had done. How would that make you feel? We treat God as though He has no capacity to hurt or grieve. Jesus wept over Jerusalem because of their rejection of Him.
“But as He came closer to Jerusalem and saw the city ahead, He began to weep. “How I wish today that you of all people would understand the way to peace. But now it is too late, and peace is hidden from your eyes.”
Luke 19:41-42 NLT
“The Lord observed the extent of human wickedness on the earth, and He saw that everything they thought or imagined was consistently and totally evil. So the Lord was sorry He had ever made them and put them on the earth. It broke His heart.”
Genesis 6:5-6 NLT
“When Israel was a child, I loved him, and I called My son out of Egypt. But the more I called to him, the farther he moved from Me, offering sacrifices to the images of Baal and burning incense to idols. I Myself taught Israel how to walk, leading him along by the hand. But he doesn’t know or even care that it was I who took care of him. I led Israel along with my ropes of kindness and love. I lifted the yoke from his neck, and I myself stooped to feed him. “But since My people refuse to return to Me, they will return to Egypt and will be forced to serve Assyria. War will swirl through their cities; their enemies will crash through their gates. They will destroy them, trapping them in their own evil plans. For My people are determined to desert Me. They call Me the Most High, but they don’t truly honor Me. “Oh, how can I give you up, Israel? How can I let you go? How can I destroy you like Admah or demolish you like Zeboiim? My heart is torn within Me, and My compassion overflows.”
Hosea 11:1-8
Do you hear the anguish of His heart in those scriptures? For years the church has taught a God without compassion or mercy. They have presented Him as aloof and vengeful. But consider yourselves and the human emotions you experience when you’re rejected, used and taken for granted. Why would you think for one moment that our Heavenly Father wouldn’t be hurt by how we treat Him. Some people are like leeches, always taking but never giving. Children who aren’t taught to say thank you, will become leeches on society. God isn’t looking for leeches, He desires that we show gratitude and acknowledge who He is and what He’s done. Consider that you’ve done everything humanly possible for your children, yet, all they do is complain. How would you feel?
The animals were showing gratitude, my goodness, that broke my heart. I’ve read that scripture multiple times, yet I never read it the way it has impacted me today. Ingratitude is a form of rebellion. It’s like saying you owe me. I needn’t do anything, I don’t have to acknowledge your hard work to provide for and protect me, I deserve it, you can afford it so do it! That’s what God was experiencing from His children. His holiness couldn’t abide it, and His love couldn’t let it go unchecked. He knew that what must be done would break His heart, but ingratitude is like leprosy, it infects not just the individual but everyone around it.
Listen to the heart of the Father in the next few verses.
“I—yes, I alone—will blot out your sins for My own sake and will never think of them again. Let us review the situation together, and you can present your case to prove your innocence.
From the very beginning, your first ancestor sinned against Me; all your leaders broke My laws.”
Isaiah 43:25-27 NLT
He was saying, I don’t want to do what I’m about to, so give me a reason to change my mind. But they couldn’t. This rebellion and ingratitude was a learned behavior. Gratitude is taught, appreciation for kindness shown is a learned behavior. I never allowed Sheri to get away with not saying thank you. I taught it before she could verbalize it. And when she started talking she had to say it. I observe parents who give in because the child refused to say thank you. You must not! You’re teaching them that they don’t need to. Take the thing away until they comply.
God doesn’t need us, we need Him. Go ahead and take a deep breath, that’s His. When was the last time you thanked Him for that? Instead of complaining about having to go to work, why don’t you thank Him that you’re not collecting unemployment. Thank Him that you’re not a convalescent, you can take care of yourself, thank Him that you have a roof over your head, a car that runs, heat and hot water, food in your cupboards, family and friends that puts up with you, thank Him that your feet hurt but you can still walk, you can see, hear and speak. Just thank Him! He’s been better to us than we deserve. If we won’t take ingratitude from our children, why should He take it from us?
Instead of always asking Him why and how come. Try starting with thank you Father for....fill in the blank, I’ve given you a jumpstart. What have you done for Him lately? God is calling for a review. We’re long on request and short on gratitude. Don’t allow the wild animals and the jackals and owl to show you up. It may shock even God (who knows everything) but go ahead....Lord I haven’t come to ask you for anything, I’m just here to say Thank You!
Written by permission of the Holy Spirit
W. Tennant
February 19, 2021