“Here Am I; Send Me”

ISAIAH 6:1-10—In commissioning Isaiah to proclaim a message—to “go, and tell this people”—there is exemplified a very important principle in God’s dealings with his servants; namely, giving to them a measure of understanding concerning himself. For example, when God spoke to Moses and commissioned him to lead the children of Israel out of Egyptian bondage, he said to him, “I am the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob.” This identification gave Moses a comprehensive understanding of who was speaking to him, and that in responding to the call to service he would be participating in the divine purpose pertaining to the seed of promise.

When Saul of Tarsus asked for the identity of the voice he heard speaking to him on the Damascus road, he received the reply, “I am Jesus of Nazareth.” Later Paul referred to this as a “heavenly vision,” and by it he was made to realize that Jesus was the Christ of promise, that now he was being called into the service of the messianic cause.

So it was with Isaiah. The Lord had an important service for him to render, and to provide him with the proper background of understanding and inspiration, the prophet was given a glorious vision of the great God whom he was to serve. Writing about this he said, “I saw also the Lord sitting upon a throne, high and lifted up,” and he heard the heavenly messengers proclaiming, “Holy, holy, holy, is the Lord of hosts: the whole earth is full of his glory.”

This vision was to some extent prophetic, for while Jehovah has always been holy, the earth was not in Isaiah’s day, nor is it now filled with his glory. True, there are many evidences of God’s glory all around us if we look for them, and interpret what we see in the light of the divine plan, but the prophecies tell of a time when the knowledge of the glory of God shall fill the earth as the waters cover the sea. It will be then that his glory will be recognized by all people—a glory which will be seen and appreciated as a result of the consummation of the divine plan of salvation.

The Lord does not grant to all of his people such spectacular visions of his glory as that given to Isaiah, yet in one way or another he does reveal himself to his servants. In this end of the age we have seen the holiness and the glory of the Lord through the vision of present truth. And through the truth, how “high” and “lifted up” we have seen the Lord to be!

God’s love has been revealed to us in his marvelous provision of grace through Christ Jesus. We have seen his justice manifested in the condemnation of the race to death because of sin, and the satisfaction of justice through the ransom.

We have seen the Creator’s wisdom in sentencing the race to death through one man, thus making it possible for all to be redeemed from death through the one man, Christ Jesus.

We have seen his wisdom also in the permission of evil in order that his human creation might learn by experience the exceeding sinfulness of sin, and its terrible results.

The Apostle Paul speaks of the manner in which the mighty power of God has been revealed to the church through the resurrection of Jesus from the dead. (Eph. 1:18-23) Through the divine plan we have also learned of the marvelous manner in which, through Christ, divine power is manifested in the resurrection of the church, and will be demonstrated further in the resurrection of all mankind.

All of these cardinal attributes of Jehovah’s character combine to reveal his glory, to help us realize that he is indeed “high and lifted up.” This knowledge has come to us through the truth, the truth of the divine plan of the ages. And it is well to remember that while this “vision” has not been given to us in such a spectacular manner as the one with which God revealed his glary to Isaiah, it has been none the less of God; for no one can grasp the truth, and through the truth see the glory of God revealed, except by divine arrangement. On this point Jesus said, “Blessed are your eyes, for they see: and your ears, for they hear.” He explained also that many righteous men had desired to see these things—these mysteries of the kingdom of heaven—but were not permitted.—Matt. 13:16,17

One of the first reactions of Isaiah when he saw the Lord “high and lifted up” was the realization of his own undone condition and his sins. This is true of all who are favored with a vision of God’s glory. It is essential that this he so, else the Lord could not use us at all in his service. In Isaiah’s case, a coal from the altar purified his lips and made him acceptable to serve the Lord.

An altar is symbolic of sacrifice, and a burning coal from the altar would bespeak the fact that an offering had been made. Isaiah lived in the age of typical sacrifices, and the antitypical sacrifice which makes our “reasonable service” acceptable to the Lord is that of Jesus. (Rom. 12:1) It is a wonderful provision, a provision so complete that it enables us to lay down our lives as co-sacrificers with Jesus, to be “planted together in the likeness of his death.”—Rom. 6:5

Isaiah heard the Lord asking, “Whom shall I send, and who will go for us?” This question indicates the purpose of every “vision” by which the Lord reveals his glory to his people. But God does not coerce his people to serve him. The Lord did not ask Isaiah directly if he would serve, but merely made it known that there was an opportunity for service, and the prophet answered, “Here am I; send me.” Inspired by his vision of God’s glory, Isaiah wanted to serve.

So it is with us. If the vision of God’s glory through the truth has had its intended effect in our lives, we will not only respond in full consecration to the Lord, but will not be happy unless we can be laying down our lives in his service; for the Lord has “sent” us to declare a message just as surely as he sent Isaiah.

Isaiah’s commission was to serve a people dull of understanding, and who would not hear. Throughout the present evil world this usually has been the case with those who have proclaimed the message of the Lord. As a rule God’s servants are rejected and persecuted, and the results of their ministry very small. It was so with all the prophets. It was thus with Jesus and the apostles. It is still true today. But the commission to go and. tell the people is not based upon results, for God is testing our loyalty to him upon the basis of our willingness to lay down our lives in his service regardless of the results obtained.

QUESTIONS

What is one of the principal facts associated with every vision which the Lord gives to his people?

What is the purpose of these visions?

How is the church made clean and fit for service?

Does the Lord coerce his people to serve him?

Are we to judge the Lord’s will in the matter of service upon the basis of results obtained?

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