"Therefore, even if you write a letter for a blind man or you must go and sit and listen, or you take the mail for him, or you visit somebody or bring a flower to somebody...it is never too small, for this is our love of Christ in action." -- Mother Teresa

"Whether you are new to the Christian faith or are a saint of many years, the greatest means of growing in the knowledge of God is the simple reading of the Scriptures from Genesis to Revelation over and over again as a daily life discipline." -- Paul Washer

When I awoke this morning, I had a possible answer to the question I had about the altar in Exodus. God had warned that it could be built of earth or stone; but, if built of stone, it had to be naturally-found stone rather than hewn with man's tools. If touched with man's tools, it would be profaned. I had thought that a curiosity. Since all parts of the Temple are supposed to represent Jesus in some way, I pondered this.

It was okay that the altar be built of earth or unhewn stone (both dust). Jesus was not brought to earth via the natural means of man-woman relations. Man had nothing to do with His form. Jesus was a dust/clay vessel as we are, yet was not a blend from 2 humans.
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I see in Isaiah 1:1 that this is an announcement to all heavens and all on earth. If it had been just to God's people (His chosen nation), it would have said, "O, Israel" or "O, Jacob." But, this is to everyone, so it is like saying, "Look, everyone, this is the example Israel is setting." Oh no. Then, the text is for Israel's ears. Isaiah is proclaiming that Israel went astray and all their motions they go through out of habit that are supposed to be for God are not pleasing to Him.

"Your heart isn't in them," God is basically saying. "You aren't doing it to be with Me. You are just going through the motions to keep Me from punishing or admonishing you."

Or, maybe it is all out of sheer, mindless habit now.

Either way, God sees/hears the evil done by His people. God says, "Wash yourselves; make yourselves clean; remove the evil of your deeds from before My eyes; cease to do evil, learn to do good; seek justice, correct oppression; bring justice to the fatherless, plead the widow's cause." (Isaiah 1:16-17)

Basically, it is a call to repent, obey, and be restored; otherwise, you'll be in dire straits!

In Isaiah 1, God is saying that He raised up Israel as His children. But, they rebelled, even though He'd tended them lovingly. In Isaiah 5:1-7, He is the vineyard caretaker who tended it well, expecting grapes, but it yielded wild grapes. So, He removed the hedge of protection and brought no rain for its water. I find this an interesting mix with Isaiah 1:22 -- "Your silver has become dross, your best wine mixed with water." Also, Isaiah 1:30-31 -- "For you shall be like an oak whose leaf withers, and like a garden without water. And the strong shall become tinder, and his work a spark, and both of them shall burn together, with none to quench them."

Their sins? Forsaking the LORD, despising Him, rebelling against Him. Their offerings to Him are vain.