Answering the Call

“In the year of King Uzziah’s death I saw the Lord sitting on a throne, lofty and exalted, with the train of His robe filling the temple. Seraphim stood above Him, each having six wings: with two he covered his face, and with two he covered his feet, and with two he flew. And one called out to another and said, “Holy, Holy, Holy, is the Lord of hosts, The whole earth is full of His glory.” And the foundations of the thresholds trembled at the voice of him who called out, while the temple was filling with smoke. Then I said, “Woe is me, for I am ruined! Because I am a man of unclean lips, And I live among a people of unclean lips; For my eyes have seen the King, the Lord of hosts.” Then one of the seraphim flew to me with a burning coal in his hand, which he had taken from the altar with tongs. He touched my mouth with it and said, “Behold, this has touched your lips; and your iniquity is taken away and your sin is forgiven.” Then 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 ‭6‬:‭1‬-‭8‬ ‭‬‬

God gave Isaiah a vision of the Lord sitting on the throne. He was exalted and the train of His robe filled the temple. Angels were above Him with wings to cover their face and feet and two to fly with. The angels cried “Holy, holy, holy is the Lord of Armies. The whole earth is filled with His glory.” The door shook and the temple filled with smoke. Isaiah was scared and said “Woe is me for I am ruined. I am a man with unclean lips. I am among a people with unclean lips. My eyes have seen the King, the Lord of armies.” An angel took a coal and touched Isaiah’s lips and his guilt was taken away and atonement made for his sins.

Then God asked “Who will I send and who will go for us?” Isaiah answered the call, “Here I am send to me.”

My understanding of king’s robes back in that time is that when a king wins a war the king adds part of a defeated king’s robe to their robe. So there are layers and layers of train attached to a successful king’s robe. Also the longer the original train of the king’s robe the more riches a kingdom had. I imagine that Isaiah saw the train of every nation attached to the Lord’s robe. This picture may have also lended to the people thinking Jesus would be a earthly king.

Unclean – Strong’s H2931 – ṭāmē’ – unclean ethically or religiously

Interesting that unclean things listed in Leviticus 5:2, Leviticus 22:4-6 and Leviticus 11:8 say that unclean include dead bodies, carcasses, and people with discharges or emissions.

Iniquity – Strong’s H5771 – ʿāônremoval – forgiveness or removal of perversity, depravity, iniquity, guilt.

Sin – Strong’s H2403 – ḥaṭṭā’āṯ – God deals with sin by covering or making atonement for sin.

Taken way – Strong’s H5493 – sûr – to turn aside of lifeless things = be removed, oppressor’s yoke or absolute iniquity

Purged – Strong’s H3722 – kāp̄ar – to be covered over; to make atonement for

Send me – Strong’s H7971 – šālaḥ – send with accusative of a person = commission

As I reflect on this passage God and Isaiah are the primary subjects. The angels are just background figures giving praise to God and also purifying Isaiah. Once Isaiah was atoned of his sins, God spoke “Who will I send?” This passage is Isaiah answering the call.

It is God who commissions us after we have been atoned of our sin by accepting Christ as our Savior. We have to answer His call.

God is the Supreme King and Lord over all. There is none that is more powerful and holy than He. He already defeated every enemy. Isaiah upon seeing God, reflected on his own sin, as well as the people group he belonged to. He knew he was unworthy to be in God’s presence. The angel brought coal to Isaiah’s lips and purified him.

God chose to reveal Himself to Isaiah. It was what came out of Isaiah’s mouth, that God took coal to. God asked “who shall I send who will go for us?” Isaiah answered the call.

In meditating on this passage I need to remember that God really is King of kings and Lord of lords. He already overcome every enemy at the cross and resurrection. So if He brings me to something I can rest in Him. Jesus atoned for my sins at the cross; so, as I confess my sins they are forgiven. It is often the words I speak that are unclean and that bring death to situations. My words need to be purified.

God makes the call but I have to answer the call. He will not force it. There are a few things I have felt like I was called to do that I know I have not followed up upon.

• A parenting class from a Christian perspective for parents
• Write a Book and print
• Share my testimony
• Trauma healing classes
• Marriage classes
• Prayer retreat
• Journals to blog
• Creating formatted journals to print

God called but I have to listen and be obedient to His voice. I have to answer by obeying through to completion.

Lord, I know that at the cross Jesus defeated every enemy and that You own all things. Help me to walk like I truly believe this. Help me to speak life and not death in my own life and in the life of others. Let me continually confess my sins and iniquities knowing that the price has already been paid for their atonement. Help me Lord to be obedient to Your call, to answer and to obey.