At the core of this chapter in Isaiah is a fundamental question that applies throughout time. God asks, “Whom shall I send?” We must each decide how we will answer such a question, for God will likely respond according to our answer. I want to answer as Isaiah did, in faith, even if I may be intimidated by what changes that brings in my life. “Here I am LORD. Send me!”
Isaiah’s Vision
1In the year of King Uzziah’s death I saw the Lord sitting on a throne, lofty and exalted, with the train of His robe filling the temple. 2Seraphim stood above Him, each having six wings: with two he covered his face, and with two he covered his feet, and with two he flew.
3And one called out to another and said,
“Holy, Holy, Holy, is the LORD of hosts,
The whole earth is full of His glory.”
4And the foundations of the thresholds trembled at the voice of him who called out, while the temple was filling with smoke.
5Then I said,
“Woe is me, for I am ruined!
Because I am a man of unclean lips,
And I live among a people of unclean lips;
For my eyes have seen the King, the LORD of hosts.”
6Then one of the seraphim flew to me with a burning coal in his hand, which he had taken from the altar with tongs. 7He touched my mouth with it and said, “Behold, this has touched your lips; and your iniquity is taken away and your sin is forgiven.”
Isaiah’s Commission
8Then I heard the voice of the Lord, saying, “Whom shall I send, and who will go for Us?” Then I said, “Here am I. Send me!”
9He said, “Go, and tell this people:
‘Keep on listening, but do not perceive;
Keep on looking, but do not understand.’
10“Render the hearts of this people insensitive,
Their ears dull,
And their eyes dim,
Otherwise they might see with their eyes,
Hear with their ears,
Understand with their hearts,
And return and be healed.”
11Then I said, “Lord, how long?” And He answered,
“Until cities are devastated and without inhabitant,
Houses are without people
And the land is utterly desolate,
12“The LORD has removed men far away,
And the forsaken places are many in the midst of the land.
13“Yet there will be a tenth portion in it,
And it will again be subject to burning,
Like a terebinth or an oak
Whose stump remains when it is felled.
The holy seed is its stump.”
When we answer God’s call, let us try to do so in faith and with confidence in Him. We don’t need to think about how we will do what He calls us to do. He already knows how this will work out when He sends us. Next time you hear the LORD asking, “Whom will I send?”, what will be your answer?
I invite you to pray with me:
Father, thank you for Your holy word that helps us to understand You and shares examples of Your relationship with Your people. Thank You for examples like Isaiah that can inspire us. Help prepare Your people to step forward and declare, “Here I am. Send me!” In the name of Yeshua we pray. Amen.
Shalom. Devotion by John in service to Christ
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