Today’s Reading: Isaiah 6

In those days a man will say to his brother,
“Since you have a coat, you be our leader!
Take charge of this heap of ruins!”
But he will reply,
“No! I can’t help.
I don’t have any extra food or clothes.
Don’t put me in charge!” – Isaiah 3:6-7

I have chosen to repeat this passage again this morning because it gives a stark contrast to Isaiah’s response to the Lord’s call in Isaiah chapter six. You see, no one wanted to lead the people of Judah because the nation was in such a mess. So many of the Judeans had already been taken captive and escorted to foreign lands, with the threat of exile for those who remained. Who would want to be the leader of this “sinking ship”? Who could possibly desire responsibility over a nation that had turned their backs away from the God of their ancestors? Who wanted to share the fate of those who were now suffering the consequence of their generational sin.

Then I heard the Lord asking, “Whom should I send as a messenger to this people? Who will go for us?”
I said, “Here I am. Send me.”
And he said, “Yes, go, and say to this people,
‘Listen carefully, but do not understand.
Watch closely, but learn nothing.’
Harden the hearts of these people.
Plug their ears and shut their eyes.
That way, they will not see with their eyes,
nor hear with their ears,
nor understand with their hearts
and turn to me for healing.” – Isaiah 6:8-10

ISAIAH HAD A WILLING HEART AND GOD CHOSE HIM FOR A SPECIFIC PURPOSE.

I love the heart of Isaiah as revealed in his quick response to the call of God. The moment God called, Isaiah responded. Without details, without questions, Isaiah responded in submissive obedience to whatever God was asking him to do. It would not be an easy assignment, but Isaiah knew that sometimes God calls us to do hard things.

God saw the heart of Isaiah and chose to reveal himself for the purpose of pulling Isaiah up to a higher calling. Not many people could say, “I saw the Lord,” but Isaiah lived to tell about the glory revealed to him the day he saw the Lord sitting on the throne, the train of His robe filling the Temple.

Attending him were mighty seraphim, each having six wings. With two wings they covered their faces, with two they covered their feet, and with two they flew. They were calling out to each other,
“Holy, holy, holy is the Lord of Heaven’s Armies!
The whole earth is filled with his glory!”
Their voices shook the Temple to its foundations, and the entire building was filled with smoke.
Then I said, “It’s all over! I am doomed, for I am a sinful man. I have filthy lips, and I live among a people with filthy lips. Yet I have seen the King, the Lord of Heaven’s Armies.” – Isaiah 6:2-5

ISAIAH HAD A HEART OF REPENTANCE, HUMBLED BY BOTH HIS OWN SIN AND THE SIN OF THE NATION.

Then one of the seraphim flew to me with a burning coal he had taken from the altar with a pair of tongs. He touched my lips with it and said, “See, this coal has touched your lips. Now your guilt is removed, and your sins are forgiven.” – Isaiah 6:6-7

Do you remember that moment when the realization of God’s unmerited favor washed over you? Do you remember the heart of regret with which you prayed for salvation? Do you remember the hope of salvation you received when your guilt was removed and your sins were forgiven?

After saying “yes” to the Lord, Isaiah began asking questions and seeking clarity. Perhaps Isaiah wondered when God’s people would experience this same hope of salvation. Was there a promise of restoration or an end to the suffering in sight? Isaiah was willing to do what God had called him to do but he had questions.

Then I said, “Lord, how long will this go on?”
And he replied,
“Until their towns are empty,
their houses are deserted,
and the whole country is a wasteland;
until the Lord has sent everyone away,
and the entire land of Israel lies deserted.
If even a tenth—a remnant—survive,
it will be invaded again and burned.
But as a terebinth or oak tree leaves a stump when it is cut down,
so Israel’s stump will be a holy seed.” – Isaiah 6:11-13

ARE YOU WEARY OF THE WORK THE LORD HAS CALLED YOU TO?

Perhaps you long for an end date to the hard thing God has assigned to you. Like Isaiah, our hearts must remain willing until God releases us from the work to which we have been called. We must remain a humble servant to the Sovereign Lord, never forgetting our own moment of salvation and staying available to be a part of someone else’s.

Then I heard the Lord asking, “Whom should I send as a messenger to this people? Who will go for us?”
I said, “Here I am. Send me.” – Isaiah 6:8