The Warning and the Promise
When Isaiah said, “Here am I. Send me,” he was accepting a call from God. He was saying, “I am willing to be God’s messenger.” God honored his obedience and willingness by giving him extremely important revelations. God allowed him to become one of the greatest prophets.
We learn much from Isaiah’s vision and his call. First, we learn more about the concern of God for His people. He sees their sin and trouble. He is grieved because of their disobedience. He plans a way to help them, and, as usual, the plan requires a man through whom He can work. God asked, “Who will go,” He wanted a willing man. God does not call people against their will. He will help and guide each of us if we are willing to receive what He offers us.
Also, we learn from Isaiah how we can respond to God’s concern for us. Isaiah’s vision first impressed upon him the holiness of God and the contrast of his own sin. He knew there was no way he could cleanse himself and make himself ready to stand in God’s presence. He just confessed his sin and accepted God’s method of cleansing him. He did nothing but believe and accept God’s provision of cleansing.
Isaiah was willing to be God’s messenger because he loved and respected God and wanted to please Him. And there was another reason, too. That is, when he saw, in this new way, the holiness and love of God’ he was amazed and sorrowful at the sin of his people. He realized that they had become blind and deaf to the reality of their religion. They were acting like rebellious children, Isaiah declared. They were like sons who would not obey their father nor respect his wisdom.
Isaiah wanted to warn them, for he knew they were bringing destruction upon themselves. They were caught in a trap of evil and were helpless. Isaiah was willing to be God’s messenger because he loved God and he loved God’s people. His office as a prophet was to help bring them close together.
For You To Do
Circle the letter of each correct completion for this incomplete sentence:
Isaiah was willing to become a messenger for God because he
a) loved God and wanted to please Him.
b) wanted. to warn the people that sin would cause judgment to come upon them.
c) knew that God loved the people and wanted them to be saved from judgment.
d) knew that the religious acts of the people would not save them.
These are words from Isaiah’s prophecies. You may wish to memorize them.
Woe to the obstinate children, declares the Lord . . . children unwilling to listen to the Lord’s instruction. . . Yet the Lord longs to be gracious to you; He rises to show you compassion. For the Lord is a God of justice. Blessed are all who wait for Him!