Isaiah 6

This chapter records Isaiah’s call to ministry.  It is one of the most powerful passages in Scripture, certainly because of the picture of God as the thrice-holy Sovereign Lord but also because of what it says about being God’s servant.

It is interesting that this was not recorded in Isa. 1, as Jeremiah and Ezekiel both recorded their prophetic call in the opening chapter of the books that bear their names.  Some might assume it is just a stylistic decision by Isaiah; but I tend to think it’s in Ch. 6 for a good reason.  For one thing, Ch. 7-12 are coming, and they involve interaction with King Ahaz, the most wicked of the kings to whom Isaiah spoke for God.  In addition the opening chapters reveal a time of material prosperity fitting of the times of Uzziah and Jotham, who were followed then by Ahaz.  

It is quite likely Isaiah was serving as a prophet (there were others, always, in Israel and Judah, most of whom served in obscurity) before this call.  So we ask, why now?  It is quite possible that God reserved this critical time for after Judah’s prosperity began to wane (in the time of Jotham) and when Judah moved into the time of Ahaz who was so void spiritually that Scripture refers to him as that King Ahaz (2 Chron. 28:22).

I can tell you personally that answering the call of God in prosperous times is different than answering the call in evil times when opposition is strong.  I write this in 2017, having served as a pastor since 1972, in the United States.  It is a time when Evangelicals (I would be lumped with them I suppose) have gained in popularity.  Churches have grown.  Finances have not been a problem.  We would say God has blessed.  But I also know, as I look around, that there are some things about Evangelicalism that are troubling.  We have moved from a strong Biblical and evangelistic church to being more ear-tickling and lukewarm.  We often seem more interested in being a political force than a voice for God.  

Perhaps this is how it is with Isaiah.  He needed to see how difficult it was going to get before God issued the call.  Without going into detail, we along with Isaiah must understand …

·        Our calling is not from nor is it really to serve people or culture; it is to serve God who is the thrice-holy LORD of hosts (v1-5).  The train of His robe fills heaven; He is surrounded by beings whose sole purpose is to proclaim His glory.  The truest indication that we know Who calls us is that we will see ourselves as unworthy, incapable of doing what God is going to ask.

·        Our calling is not based on our excellencies, degrees, past success or abilities.  We are sinful, we are weak, we are not capable of ourselves (v5-8).  I thank God for a little church in Colorado that God used to deflate my self-image, to help me understand how undone I was.  It’s a self-view that to this day God is gracious to remind me of lest I forfeit my true competence (2 Cor. 3:5).  What I must know is not that I am capable but that I am forgiven.  God is in the business of using sinful men to accomplish His tasks.  It is at that point that God simply asks: who will go for us?  He does not ask, who can do this?  He looks not for our ability but our availability.

·        Our calling is to God’s work, His specific work for us (v9-10).  We are not called to success!  By which I mean the obvious: we are not called to big or growing crowds.  We are called to do what God asks and if that results in bigger crowds we must both be wary and be faithful not to exchange what God has given us to do in order to continue the growth.  That is such a critical issue in our day when so many Evangelical churches are constantly repackaging themselves according to the people they want to reach.  It sounds so right, and yet it indicates poor spiritual leadership who do not understand that our ministry is from the Lord!

·        Our calling is according to God’s time-table (v11-13).  I am happy Isaiah asked the question, how long.  It tells me it’s okay to ask.  But we need to see that God’s answer took Isaiah long beyond the end of his life.  But further, God was telling him, this message will be rejected so that the time will come that the people will experience the desolation that is fitting when the people of God continue to turn away from Him.

Perhaps you are at a time in life where you are struggling with faithfulness in ministry, or just faithfulness in walking with God.  These times come when we encounter affliction of some sort, perhaps which surprises us.  I often think of Jeremiah.  God called him; he said yes; and then he went out to find out that God was not kidding when He had told the prophet no one would listen to him.  Even his brothers conspired against him.  Then he came back to God and the record tells us that Jeremiah had to come to grips with the level of difficulty.  

In Isaiah’s case, perhaps he has seen the downward spiritual drift of Judah, even as he saw what was happening in the Northern Kingdom (they were about to be taken captive by the Assyrians).  And perhaps, then, it is out of that vision that God calls him.  And his answer is what I always want to be saying to God: Here am I! Send me.