Isaiah, the Willing Prophet

MEMORY VERSE: “Also I heard the voice of the Lord, saying, Whom shall I send, and who will go for us? Then said I, Here am I; send me.” —Isaiah 6:8

ISAIAH 6:1-9, 11, 12

IN ISAIAH’S vision he saw the Lord “high and lifted up.” We may not understand the significance of all the details mentioned in connection with this vision, but through it Isaiah recognized that the Lord was calling him to a special service, and his ready response was, “Here am I; send me!”

The call to divine service is always associated with a “vision” in which the Lord is seen “high and lifted up.” Not many throughout the ages have been favored with such a literal vision as that which was given to Isaiah, but some have. Jesus was so favored when the “heavens” were opened up to him, and his response was, “Lo, I come, in the volume of the hook it is written of me, I delight to do thy will, O my God.”—Matt. 3:16; Ps. 40:7,8; Heb. 10:7

Saul of Tarsus was called into divine service by a vision that was given to him on the Damascus road. (Acts 9:3-6) His response was “Lord, what wilt thou have me to do?” Later, in a statement to King Agrippa, Paul said, “I was not disobedient unto the heavenly vision.” (Acts 26:19) Paul’s obedience to the vision cost him many years of laborious service, much hardship, and finally execution by the Roman government.

There are visions less spectacular than those given to Isaiah, Jesus, and Paul. There is the “vision” of truth. The truth of the divine plan reveals the great God and Creator of the universe as being “lifted up,” or exalted, very high. The truth reveals the glory of God, that glory of character made up of his wisdom, justice, love, and power. Those who see this “vision” are enthralled by it, and they hear the Lord calling them into his service.

Briefly, the “vision” of truth reveals that God created man to live on, and to be king over the earth forever, but that man lost this opportunity through disobedience to divine law. The truth further reveals that Jesus Christ tasted death for every man, and that because of this work of redemption the dead world of mankind will be awakened from the sleep of death and given an opportunity, on the basis of belief and obedience, to enter into the inheritance originally provided for them.

In the outworking of this arrangement, God has been calling out from the world a “little flock” to be associated with Christ in his kingdom. These will receive a heavenly reward, and will live and reign with Christ a thousand years, that thousand years during which the dead world of mankind is being restored to human perfection and life.—John 14:3; Rev. 20:4,6

The invitation to those who are given the opportunity, through faithfulness, to reign with Christ is described as a “heavenly calling”; and in order to attain unto this heavenly calling they must walk in the footsteps of Jesus, suffering and dying with him.

This plan of God for the salvation of mankind is simple, but only a few in each generation have been able to “see” it. Only those to whom the Lord gives “ears to hear” and “eyes to see” are able to comprehend this vision and be inspired by it. And these the Lord calls into his service. Like Isaiah, however, they are keenly aware of their imperfections. In Isaiah’s vision his lips were cleansed by a coal from the altar. In our case, we are cleansed by the precious blood of Christ, and given the assurance that despite our imperfections our work of sacrifice will be acceptable to the Lord.—Rom. 12:1

All who walk in the footsteps of Jesus are called to be spokesmen for the Lord. Not all can serve publicly, as from a platform, but all have the opportunity of witnessing to the truth which has so greatly blessed them; if not publicly, then in various other ways, as they bear testimony to their neighbors and friends.

Today, spokesmen for the Lord can use the printed page to disseminate the message of truth and thus hear a wider testimony than would be possible otherwise. Tracts, booklets, and books hear an important part in the present-day ministry of the truth; and blessed are they who, when they hear the call, respond, “Here am I; send me!”

QUESTIONS

What divine purpose was served by the vision given to Isaiah?

Mention two others to whom the Lord gave special visions, and comment.

By what sort of “vision” does the Lord call most of his people into service?

What is a very effective way of bearing witness to the truth in this modern age?

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