Isaiah Chapter 6:8-10: Commissioned, the Response to Divine Concern
As soon as Isaiah is redeemed, a transformation has occurred. He now hears (or overhears) the voice of God. “Who shall I send, who will go for us?” The us here could be a royal “we”, or a glimpse into the heavenly council as seen elsewhere in the Oldt Tesatament. The New Testament, however, does indicate that the Son and the Holy Spirit are a part of this exact moment. (John 12:39-41; Acts 28:25-27)
Isaiah jumps at the chance to serve. The forgiveness he has received and the immensity of what he has been spared of make it impossible for him to not respond as he does. He has no idea what his service will entail, where he will go, nor what he will be required to say, but he is ready to serve God. This is the correct response to salvation. We do not serve God to gain that salvation, nor earn any degree of merit. However, we can only respond to salvation by giving our lives to serve the One who has saved us!
And yet, the task that Isaiah is given is a thankless one. He will deliver a message of warning that will not be heeded. In fact, his message will serve to make a stubborn people even more stubborn and lead to the already-ordained punishment for their sin. Is this unjust? Only if taken out of context. God has been warning His people and calling them to repentance for centuries. At this point, their fate is determined. (Save for a few individuals.) The message of warning will not save them but will serve as a message for generations to come and lay the groundwork for God’s ultimate plan of salvation.
Isaiah’s message will not be unclear or complicated; designed to be misunderstood. The intellectuals will make fun of him for how simple it will be (Isaiah 28:9,10). Isaiah’s message will be clear, simple and repetitive. Yet as it is rejected again and again, the people will move further and further away from God. They will not understand nor perceive. Their hearts, ears, and eyes will become hard, stopped up, and clouded. This is a stark warning for people to not ignore God too long!
Isaiah jumps at the chance to serve. The forgiveness he has received and the immensity of what he has been spared of make it impossible for him to not respond as he does. He has no idea what his service will entail, where he will go, nor what he will be required to say, but he is ready to serve God. This is the correct response to salvation. We do not serve God to gain that salvation, nor earn any degree of merit. However, we can only respond to salvation by giving our lives to serve the One who has saved us!
And yet, the task that Isaiah is given is a thankless one. He will deliver a message of warning that will not be heeded. In fact, his message will serve to make a stubborn people even more stubborn and lead to the already-ordained punishment for their sin. Is this unjust? Only if taken out of context. God has been warning His people and calling them to repentance for centuries. At this point, their fate is determined. (Save for a few individuals.) The message of warning will not save them but will serve as a message for generations to come and lay the groundwork for God’s ultimate plan of salvation.
Isaiah’s message will not be unclear or complicated; designed to be misunderstood. The intellectuals will make fun of him for how simple it will be (Isaiah 28:9,10). Isaiah’s message will be clear, simple and repetitive. Yet as it is rejected again and again, the people will move further and further away from God. They will not understand nor perceive. Their hearts, ears, and eyes will become hard, stopped up, and clouded. This is a stark warning for people to not ignore God too long!
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