“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).
Heavenly Father, to each of us comes a call to “Go” in your name. Sometimes, at the beginning of the journey, the “where” is clear. Sometimes it is not. Whatever our individual case may be, help us like Isaiah to answer, “Here am I, Send me.”
In the case of Isaiah, before his call, he was given a vision. It must have created mixed feelings; Feelings of awe: The grandeur and majesty of the Sovereign God who was calling him had filled the temple. There was smoke everywhere!
There were seraphim flying and crying out “Holy, holy, holy, is the LORD of hosts; the whole earth is full of His glory!” Their cry caused the posts of the door to shake! And he beheld the Lord “high and lifted up” sitting on a throne.
Feelings of fear: His first thought must have been, “Surely I shall die! I am a sinful man living among sinful people and my eyes have looked upon the holy God!
Right at that moment one of the seraphim took a live coal with the thongs from the altar and touched his lips, causing him to be cleansed from his iniquities, and purged of his sins!
Several powerful lessons to be learned from Isaiah’s calling:
“All of God’s callings are enablings.”
“God uses sinners to call sinners!”
“It is Jesus who cleanses us, then uses us. So come to Him just as you are!”
“Never assume that you know what to do. Let the Lord tell you what He wants you to do!”
“He will let you know when your work for Him is through!”
Throughout Isaiah’s ministry, there was always a remnant, because out of that remnant (stump) the Messiah (the “holy seed) would come.
Perhaps if Isaiah had known just how rocky the road of His journey would be, he may not have been so eager to volunteer. Perhaps that is why, sometimes, the entire plan is not revealed at the beginning of the call. But one thing is sure, His (God’s) plan will not take you where His grace cannot sustain you. And as someone has rightly said, “If He brought you to it, He will take you through it.”
I believe we can all agree that God will never allow the fire to get hotter than we can bear. Nor will He allow the waters to rise high enough to drown us (Isaiah 43:2; 1 Corinthian 10:13).
In the case of martyrs, He also provides them with visions that enable them to bear their martyrdom (Act 7:54-56).
Beloved ones, let us not be afraid to answer God’s call to service, He makes Himself responsible for His children!