ESOCS Devotional 2 January 2026 – The Covenant of Circumcision
MEMORY VERSE: “The ox knows its master, the donkey its owner’s manger, but Israel does not know, my people do not understand.” Isaiah 1:3 NIV
TEXT: ISAIAH 1:1-9
The vision of Isaiah the son of Amoz, which he saw concerning Judah and Jerusalem in the days of Uzziah, Jotham, Ahaz, and Hezekiah, kings of Judah.
2 Hear, O heavens, and give ear, O earth!
For the Lord has spoken:
“I have nourished and brought up children,
And 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 consider.”
4 Alas, sinful nation,
A people laden with iniquity,
A brood of evildoers,
Children who are corrupters!
They have forsaken the Lord,
They have provoked to anger
The Holy One of Israel,
They have turned away backward.
5 Why should you be stricken again?
You will revolt more and more.
The whole head is sick,
And the whole heart faints.
6 From the sole of the foot even to the head,
There is no soundness in it,
But wounds and bruises and putrefying sores;
They have not been closed or bound up,
Or soothed with ointment.
7 Your country is desolate,
Your cities are burned with fire;
Strangers devour your land in your presence;
And it is desolate, as overthrown by strangers.
8 So the daughter of Zion is left as a booth in a vineyard,
As a hut in a garden of cucumbers,
As a besieged city.
9 Unless the Lord of hosts
Had left to us a very small remnant,
We would have become like Sodom,
We would have been made like Gomorrah.
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TGod’s desire has always been for His people to live in close fellowship with Him. From Genesis to Revelation, the Bible echoes this plea: “Come back to Me!” Even when we wander, God never stops seeking restoration. Like the prodigal son in Luke 15:11–32, we often leave the father’s house chasing after empty promises. But God waits patiently for our return, ready to embrace us with forgiveness and restoration. Luke 15:20 captures this vividly: “But while he was still a long way off, his father saw him and was filled with compassion for him; he ran to his son, threw his arms around him and kissed him.” Just like Israel in Isaiah’s time, many believers today become distracted by culture, comfort, or personal ambition, forgetting the One who formed them. The result is spiritual disconnection, confusion, compromise, and brokenness.
In Jeremiah 3:22, God declares: “Return, faithless people; I will cure you of backsliding.” The invitation is clear and merciful. God doesn’t call us back to punish us but to heal and restore. His grace meets us even in rebellion.
Hosea 6:1 echoes the same hope: “Come, let us return to the Lord. He has torn us to pieces but He will heal us; He has injured us but He will bind up our wounds.” Returning home to God means surrendering our pride, confessing our sins, and walking in obedience once again.
Practical steps to returning home
- Recognize the Drift – Like Israel, we must admit when we’ve turned away.
- Repent with Sincerity – Confession opens the door to forgiveness (1 John 1:9).
- Rebuild Fellowship – Spend time in prayer, the Word, and godly community.
- Remain in His Presence – Abide in Him daily (John 15:4–5).
Reflections
- Are there areas of your life where you’ve drifted from God?
- What is stopping you from returning fully to Him?
- How can you cultivate a deeper daily walk with God?
Prayer
- Lord, I confess that I have strayed from you in thoughts, choices, and priorities. Forgive me for forgetting who you are and whose I am. Thank you for calling me back home. Help me walk in renewed fellowship with you. Amen.
Further Reading: Isaiah 13: 1-18; Matthew 23:1-12; Revelation 17:7- End
ESOCS Devotional 2 January 2026
