Also 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.” (Isaiah 6: 8, NKJV).
Gracious God, please help us to respond promptly and lovingly to Your call. If it takes a vision of Your majesty to do this, then prepare us and give us such a vision we pray, in the name of Jesus Christ. Amen.
Our Scripture is taken from an experience of the prophet Isaiah. This vision is obviously so important that it is dated: “In the sixth year of the king Uzziah [.]” And indeed I consider it very important as I look at it from the prophet’s personal life.
The prophet is receiving a call from God to become His mouthpiece. Calls to speak in God’s name are not to be taken lightly. Such a honor is preceded by great preparation. In order for the prophet to speak with wisdom, understanding, and authority, he must first of all know, from personal experience, know Who God is!
God, who will never commission us without enabling us, gives His prophet a vision of His sovereignty. Let us get a glimpse of the prophet’s enabling:
“I saw the Lord sitting on a throne, high and lifted up, and the train of His robe filled the temple. Above it stood seraphim; each one had six wings: with two he covered his face, with two he covered his feet, and with two he flew. And one cried to another and said: ‘ “Holy, holy, holy is the Lord of hosts; The whole earth is full of His glory!” ‘ And the posts of the door were shaken by the voice of him who cried out, and the house was filled with smoke” ‘ ” (1b-4).
The earth alone cannot contain God’s glory! His glory cannot be measured! Therefore the prophet is doing his very best to share with us the transcendental glory of our God! Now he is able to see himself as he really is. Now he is being made ready to minister to the people of God, for his eyes have seen the glory of God! IT IS ONLY AS WE SEE THE GLORY OF GOD THAT WE ARE MADE AWARE OF OUR TRUE CONDITION! He confesses his condition to the Lord:
“Woe is me, for I am undone! Because I am a man of unclean lips, and I dwell in the midst of a people of unclean lips; for my eyes have seen the King, the Lord of hosts” (5)
The enabling process is almost over. Now for the final touch – literally!
“Then one of the seraphim flew to me, having in his hand a live coal which he had taken with the tongs from the altar. And he touched my mouth with it, and said: ‘ “Behold, this has touched your lips; Your iniquity is taken away, And your sin purged.” ‘ Also 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” ‘ ” ‘ ” (6-8. Emphasis provided).
He has been called by the Lord, seen the Lord, touched and cleansed by the Lord. He is ready and equipped for God to use him. He finally answers the call of the Lord: Here I am, where you want me Lord, send me!