It’s not simple to console parents whose children have gone astray. The broken heart of God the Father with estranged children cannot be consoled by mere words. Even the Ox and the donkey know their owner and where they belong. But God’s people have no clue!

Here are the words to a broken-hearted Father: “Hear O heavens, and give ear, O earth; for the Lord has spoken: “‘Children I have reared and brought up, but they have rebelled against me’” (Isaiah 1:2).

After constant reminders from the Lord, the people continued with their rebellion. They were busy with lots of religious and civic activities. But they forgot their Father was the one who gave them life and sustained them.

We may share our burdens with friends that are equal to us. We may even find people we can relate with. But for God, there is no equal. He has no one else to share with. So he says “Hear, O heavens, and give ear, O Earth; for the Lord has spoken: Children I have reared and brought up, but they have rebelled against me.” God’s heart was crushed and he needed to share his burden with someone. But God has no equal. Maybe God expresses this to the heavens and the earth as a “witness,” for they have seen mankind from the beginning.

God makes a comparison between the Ox and the donkey. They know their place and they have an understanding of where they belong. In other words, even brute beasts have the “understanding” that they need. “But Israel does not know, my people do not understand.”

Sadly, people were compared to animals. But the rebellion of the people was inexcusable. The people claimed to know, but they were full of rebellion.

The broken-hearted father still waits for his children to return. All people of the world were created by God and He wants a relationship with them. God is waiting for his children to return.