Ignorance Is No Excuse - Isaiah 1:2,3

Isaiah 1:

2 Hear, O heavens, and give ear, O earth;
for the LORD has spoken:
“Children have I reared and brought up,
but they have rebelled against me.
3 The ox knows its owner,
and the donkey its master's crib,
but Israel does not know,
my people do not understand.”

Ignorance, for the Christian, is an indictment, not an excuse. It is no different for the unbeliever. This may seem harsh (as truth often is), but, the fact that God would reveal this to us, indeed confront us with it, is an act of grace on his part. Are we not better off hearing the truth, even when we do not like it, than not hearing anything at all? Or worse, being lied to? Here God speaks plainly. Even a stupid ox knows who its owner is. But Israel does not know.

They should. They have no excuse.

According to St. Paul, unbelievers in this world are without excuse as well. Here is what he says about it in the opening chapter of his epistle to the Romans:

Romans 1:18 For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who by their unrighteousness suppress the truth. 19 For what can be known about God is plain to them, because God has shown it to them. 20 For his invisible attributes, namely, his eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly perceived, ever since the creation of the world, in the things that have been made. So they are without excuse.

A dumb ox knows its owner. A stupid donkey knows who it is who feeds it. But human beings claim ignorance of God. God, however, does not accept that excuse as a valid one. God holds us accountable. According to God, the world around us daily demonstrates God's wisdom and goodness, his "invisible attributes," his "eternal power and divine nature." Nature points to a God. Creation points to a Creator. The fact that man ignores this evidence is prima facie evidence of his rebellion. Man is bent against God, so man demands more.

And God has given more. Much more. According to John's gospel . . .

1:1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2 He was in the beginning with God. 3 All things were made through him, and without him was not any thing made that was made. In him was life . . .
14 And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth.

Creation by itself, and our cognizance of it--yet rejection of the Creator--is enough to condemn us. But God in his grace did more than just reveal himself in creation. God also gave us special revelation in the person of his Son. The Word became flesh and dwelt among us.

John makes some very important assertions in this beginning to his gospel. Let's look at three.

First, John takes the Greek concept of the "Logos"(the Word)--the impersonal force which commands order in the universe--and associates this Logos with the person of Jesus Christ. Jesus is the Creator and the Sustainer of the universe.

Second, John points out that the Creator did an astounding thing, he condescended to become a part of the creation--to "dwell" among us. This is what Jesus, himself, claimed to be--God in the flesh. He was the Creator walking among his creation, revealing himself to us. The author of the Epistle to the Hebrews wrote:

1:1 Long ago, at many times and in many ways, God spoke to our fathers by the prophets, 2 but in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son, whom he appointed the heir of all things, through whom also he created the world. 3 He is the radiance of the glory of God and the exact imprint of his nature, and he upholds the universe by the word of his power.

God spoke to us through the person of Jesus Christ, his Son. He showed us himself, revealed himself to us personally.

The third thing John reveals about Jesus in the opening of his gospel is this:

9 The true light, which enlightens everyone, was coming into the world. 10 He was in the world, and the world was made through him, yet the world did not know him. 11 He came to his own, and his own people did not receive him. 12 But to all who did receive him, who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God, 13 who were born, not of blood nor of the will of the flesh nor of the will of man, but of God.

The coming of Jesus into the world was a light which "enlightens everyone." This is additional light, additional revelation to the light of creation. With this light comes a demand implicitly stated here--receive him. It is a condemnation that his own people did not receive him and it is a condemnation that men still reject him today.

God revealed himself in creation. Man rejects this light. God revealed himself in the person of his Son. Man rejects this light also. Is there help for man? Is there help for us? Only if we turn.

Some do receive. Some do believe. Who are they? Those who are born of God.

Where are you in this?