The book of Isaiah begins in a very surprising way as God declares that he is displeased with the sacrifices and the worship of his people. It seems like a strange contradiction that the God who commanded the system of sin offerings and temple worship should be unhappy when his people do these very things. But as we explore the message of the prophet, we see that the people had come to rely on their status as the “People of God” and their performance of religious duties. They had lost the authenticity of their relationship with God and failed to realise how far they had drifted from obedience that comes from the heart. The prophet Isaiah’s words are as relevant to us today as they were to the Israelites then as he calls us to experience God through a life of obedience.