Part 6 of “Paths in the Wilderness”
Isaiah 43:22–24
(22)Yet you did not call upon me, O Jacob; but you have been weary of me, O Israel! (23)You have not brought me your sheep for burnt offerings, or honored me with your sacrifices. I have not burdened you with offerings, or wearied you with frankincense. (24)You have not bought me sweet cane with money, or satisfied me with the fat of your sacrifices. But you have burdened me with your sins; you have wearied me with your iniquities.(ESV)
God’s tone shifts here—and it hits like a cold wind after a warm fire. He’s not angry because they rebelled. He’s heartbroken because they forgot Him. They didn’t curse His name. They didn’t wage war against Him. They just… moved on.
Neglect, not defiance, is often the real danger.
This is the tragedy of spiritual forgetfulness. It’s not an intentional betrayal. It’s a slow drift. A weariness of worship. A fatigue with faithfulness.
Revelation 2:4
But I have this against you, that you have abandoned the love you had at first.(ESV)
God doesn’t say, “You defied me.” He says, “You were weary of me.” That’s a terrifying phrase. Because it implies not just disobedience—but disinterest.
They forgot a God who never stopped remembering them.
He says:
- “I didn’t ask too much.”
- “I didn’t burden you.”
- “I didn’t weigh you down with religious demands.”
Micah 6:3
“O my people, what have I done to you? How have I wearied you? Answer me!”(ESV)
This is not the wrath of a dictator. This is the grief of a Father. God is saying, “I carried you—and you stopped calling.” And yet, even in this grief, He still hasn’t let go.
You cannot out-sin the patience of God, but you can ignore it.
The people brought Him no offerings—but they gave Him something else:
- “You have burdened me with your sins.”
- “You have wearied me with your iniquities.”
They stopped offering worship, and instead gave Him the weight of their compromise.
Jeremiah 2:32
Can a virgin forget her ornaments, or a bride her attire? Yet my people have forgotten me days without number.(ESV)
This is the wilderness of forgetfulness—when we live like we no longer need the God who led us out of Egypt.
Reflections and Questions for the Journey
- Are you weary of God—or weary of religion that never satisfied?
- Have you slowly stopped calling on God—not in rebellion, but neglect?
- What offerings of praise or sacrifice have been replaced with distractions?
Tomorrow: Day 7 – The God Who Blots Out (Isaiah 43:25–28)
We’ll close the series with one of the most staggering promises in all of Scripture—and how mercy isn’t just offered, it’s proclaimed.
Walking With Christ 
Leave a comment