Isaiah’s vision of God
“Whom shall I send? And who will go for us? And I said, “Here am I. Send me” Isaiah. 6:8.
- Isaiah’s vision of God.
(When? In the year that King Uzziah died.740 BC.
Uzziah was a great king of Judah.(2 Chronicles.26, 2 Kings.15:1-17) He became a King of Judah at the age of 16 and reigned for 52 years.(792-740 BC). ” He did what was right in the eyes of the Lord..” 2 Kings.15:3….He was greatly successful and prosperous. 2 Chronicles 26:16 says “but after Uzziah becomes powerful,his pride led to his downfall…He forcefully went to the temple of the Lord to burn incense and God punished him with leprosy….(2. Chro.26:16-21) On his death , people of Judah must have worried about the future of their Kingdom.)
A. Isaiah saw the Lord seated on a throne, high and exalted. Isa.6:1.
Lord is on the throne, high and exalted means God’s authority is above any authority in the world.
B. Isaiah heard and understood the holiness of God.
Holy, holy, holy is the Lord Almighty 6:3.( The repitation underscores God’s infinite holiness)
- Isaiah’s response to his vision of God. Isa.6:5.
A. I am a man of unclean lips( he saw his spiritual condition. So far he was seeing the sins of others but now he was able to see his own shortcomings.)
B. I live among a people of unclean lips.(He saw the spiritual condition of the people around) - Cleansing of Isaiah. Isa.6:6.
A. God cleansing Isaiah by sending His angel. (Only God can cleanse us. He will do it when we repent and go to Him)
B. your guilt is taken away and your sin atoned for. 6:7.(Jesus paid the penalty for our sins. He will cleanse all those who come to Him in faith.) - Call of Isaiah. Isa.6:8.
A. Isaiah heard the voice of the Lord.
a. Whom shall I send?
b. And who will go for us?
God didn’t forced Isaiah. God wanted to save the people from their uncleanness and was looking for volunteers.( Jesus died on the cross for the whole world. He wanted the whole world to hear His love. He is still asking for volunteers…) - Response of Isaiah. Isa.6:8
“Here am I . Send me. (unconditional surrender, willing to go anywhere to do anything for God. His love to us was uncondtional)
In 1980, after my B.Sc studies, when I was planning for further studies and…God asked this question to me also. I tried my best to give all sorts of excuses. Finally, God gave me the grace to say Yes….. anywhere, anything… It is a previlege to be His Ambassador.
Do we see God as exalted, almighty and holy?
Do we see our spiritual condition? (man of unclean lips) if we cry to God, He will cleanse us.
Do we see the spiritual condition of the millions of people around us? (people of unclean lips, people who are drowning in sin, who need a Saviour)
Do you hear the call of God in your life? (the still small voice..)
Are you willing to say? Here am I. Send me. (Unconditional)
May God give you the grace to respond to Him in love.
Rev.C.V.Abraham.