A people who provoke me to my face continually… These are a smoke in my nostrils, a fire that burns all the day. Isaiah 65:3, 5
Here are several more forms of religion that Isaiah identifies as offensive to God.
Dark religion: People “who sit in tombs, and spend the night in secret places” (65:4). This brand of religion takes a great interest in the dead, seeking communication with the spirits of people who are no longer with us. There’s a great upsurge of interest in this form of religion in our time. But the God of the Bible says that it offends Him.
Rebellious religion: People “who eat pig’s flesh, and broth of tainted meat” (65:4). In the Old Testament, God’s people were given specific laws that marked their special relationship with Him. These included avoiding certain foods. So, for a person in Old Testament Israel to eat “pig’s flesh” or “broth of tainted meat” was open rebellion against the laws of God. This person was saying, “Whatever God has commanded, I will do the opposite. I am going to be my own god.” And God says, “That provokes Me.”
Arrogant religion: People “who say, ‘Keep to yourself, do not come near me, for I am too holy for you’” (65:5). Some religious people are unbearably proud. Their religion makes them feel superior to others. But God is saying, “If your religion makes you proud, then your religion provokes me, it offends me.”
Maybe you have been burned by religion. You were drawn to seek God, but you have been discouraged by what you have seen in church. You have found that among those who claim to know God (in church), there are many who are far from Him. That’s exactly what Isaiah is saying here: “Religion is a mixed bag, and much of it offends God!”
Have you been discouraged in your pursuit of God by what you’ve seen in the church?
