The ox knoweth his owner, and the ass his master’s crib; but Israel doth not know, my people doth not consider. Isaiah 1:3
As a little boy, I well remember how the cows at milking time would file into the barn in a specific order, each cow knowing her rank in the herd. They never varied from their spot in the lineup. And when they entered the barn, they each went directly to the stall that was assigned to them. When I entered the stable, I always saw the same order, and I can still name those six cows. They knew their place. Much better than we do.
Isaiah looked about him in dismay, seeing a nation that did not keep in remembrance that its very existence depended on the preservation and protection of God. They were God’s people, but they kept forgetting about that, and they were constantly in trouble because of it. Much like us today.
We are like Israel, we get so involved in our own little efforts and feel that we are self-sufficient. We work hard to build up our abilities and soon become so self-satisfied and confident that we forget that everything we have is from God.
Just like Israel did (and still does), we occupy a special place for God in the world. We are the objects of His special attention, and His purposes in the world are delivered through us. We are His ambassadors, His witnesses, and His workers. But all too often, we are so full of our own ideas and efforts that we forget whose we are. The ox that Isaiah spoke of knew its master and obeyed his commands. The ass knew that it was its master who provided its food and was confident that the crib would be kept supplied. We do well to remember these creatures and the wisdom that God gave them.
God is our strength and supply. We ought to obey Him today. -Jim MacIntosh