And God Was Not Happy!

In the Old Testament story from Isaiah 5:1-7(see below) we hear Isaiah addressing, for a God, a gigantic problem. The problem is that the Israelite's -- God chosen people -- love for God and for each other is no longer the center of their everyday living. They have strayed far away from God's hopes and dreams  for them.

God had rescued them from the oppressive conditions in Egypt and given them lives of rich fullness and plenty.  God had cleared a straight path, of well conditioned land, prefect conditions for good growth; and planted for them the best vines.  Then built the finest vat for them to produce extraordinary wine. He provide all the best conditions for the basic needs of his 'chosen people'.  

As I reread this small little story of disappointment, it reminded me of the children's book The Giving Tree by Shil Silverstein.  It is a story about a boy and an apple tree. The tree loved the boy and visa versa!  When the boy way very young he would come and play in the shade of the tree, climb on its branches and swing. And both the boy and the tree where very happy!  However, the boy grew and his needs grew with him.  One day he came to the tree and said he wanted money.  The tree had no money!  But he had apples for the boy to sell and get money.  Later in his life the boy again returned to the tree with another want.  He wanted to build a house for his wife and family.  So the tree said cut off my branches and build a house.  But that was not enough!  Some years later the boy wanted a boat.  So the tree said cut down my trunk and build a boat.  Now the tree was just a stump with nothing else to offer the boy.  Until one day, when the boy was very old, he came to the tree with just one need.  A place to rest!  So, the boy sat on the stump and found rest.  The tree was very happy!

God had been very generous to the Israelites.  He have provide for their every need.  And like the boy, the Israelites used up  and devoured all that God had given them.  But, it was never enough!  And they grumbled and complained to God.  Here is where we pick up the story!  God has extremely frustrated with his ungrateful people.  His heart was sad at their lack of concern and care for each other.  Instead of "Doing kindness, loving justice and walking humbly with their God" (Micah 6:8); they climbed on each other's backs to gain power, money and land with force and bloodshed.

And God is not happy!     

1 Let me sing for my beloved my love-song concerning his vineyard: My beloved had a vineyard on a very fertile hill. 

2 He dug it and cleared it of stones, and planted it with choice vines; he built a watchtower in the midst of it, and hewed out a wine vat in it; he expected it to yield grapes, but it yielded wild grapes. 

3 And now, inhabitants of Jerusalem and people of Judah, judge between me and my vineyard. 

4 What more was there to do for my vineyard that I have not done in it? When I expected it to yield grapes, why did it yield wild grapes? 

5 And now I will tell you what I will do to my vineyard. I will remove its hedge, and it shall be devoured; I will break down its wall, and it shall be trampled down. 

6 I will make it a waste; it shall not be pruned or hoed, and it shall be overgrown with briers and thorns; I will also command the clouds that they rain no rain upon it.

7 For the vineyard of the Lord of hosts is the house of Israel, and the people of Judah are his pleasant planting; he expected justice, but saw bloodshed; righteousness, but heard a cry!  (Isaiah 5:1-7)