Called
5 And I said: "Woe is me! I am lost, for I am a man of unclean lips, and I live among a people of unclean lips; yet my eyes have seen the King, the LORD of hosts!" 6 Then one of the seraphs flew to me, holding a live coal that had been taken from the altar with a pair of tongs. 7 The seraph touched my mouth with it and said: "Now that this has touched your lips, your guilt has departed and your sin is blotted out." 8 Then I heard the voice of the Lord saying, "Whom shall I send, and who will go for us?" And I said,
"Here am I; send me!" (Isaiah 6:5-8)
The story of the calling of the prophet Isaiah is breathtaking and awe-inspiring. Isaiah's vision of God's throne room is vivid and detailed, and his recollection of the moment he realized the likely fearsome consequence of witnessing the divine is humbling. Isaiah's subsequent cleansing is equally striking - standing still, perhaps paralyzed by fear, as a seraph flew over holding a burning coal aimed at his lips. It's that seraph who spoke and told Isaiah that his guilt and sin had been erased. The voice of God, asking who would go and speak on behalf of the divine, was then directed at all who were present. Isaiah, now cleansed and freed of his fear, volunteered. Only then was he told (v. 9-13) that his devastating mission was to speak of the ruin of those who would refuse to understand, refuse to turn to God, until only a faithful tenth remained.
Isaiah might have preferred a different mission but he accepted his calling with grace. Isaiah had surrendered himself to God, but he still sought understanding and clarification so that he could serve well. Feeling ignored and misunderstood would be hallmarks of Isaiah's time as a prophet yet he remained faithful. We can be encouraged by Isaiah's example. Heading God's call may not always cause others to receive us well, or leave us feeling appreciated or honored. But if we are willing to surrender, God will equip us and supply what we need to serve faithfully. Let us not grow weary in well-doing, for in the end we will reap
if we do not faint (Galatians 6:9 paraphrased).
12 So then, brothers and sisters, we are debtors, not to the flesh, to live according to the flesh-- 13 for if you live according to the flesh, you will die; but if by the Spirit you put to death the deeds of the body, you will live. 14 For all who are led by the Spirit of God are children of God. 15 For you did not receive a spirit of slavery to fall back into fear, but you have received a spirit of adoption. When we cry, "Abba! Father!" 16 it is that very Spirit bearing witness with our spirit that we are children of God, 17 and if children, then heirs, heirs of God and joint heirs with Christ--if, in fact, we suffer with him so that we may also be
glorified with him. (Romans 8:12-17)
