Calling and Purpose 6—Isaiah
Today, our culture seems to be obsessed with qualifications—education, degrees, certifications, contacts, experience. When we look at Isaiah’s “qualifications,” we don’t find much. We are just told that he is the son of Amoz and that he lived during the reigns of four kings of Judah: Uzziah, Jotham, Ahaz and Hezekiah.
Then, we come to Isaiah 6, which in the New International Version of the Bible is entitled: “Isaiah’s Commission.” Isaiah, who we know from prior chapters is prone to seeing visions, has a vision of the Lord, “high and exalted, seated on a throne; and the train of his robe filled the temple” (6:1). Isaiah’s response is “Woe to me!…I am ruined! For I am a man of unclean lips, and I live among a people of unclean lips, and my eyes have seen the King, the Lord Almighty” (6:5). In the Presence of the Almighty God, Isaiah has a keen sense of his unholiness, his unworthiness, his guilt. In response, a seraphim touches Isaiah’s mouth with a live coal from the altar, saying, “See, this has touched your lips; your guilt is taken away and your sin atoned for” (6:7). Isaiah in his humility and confession receives the Lord’s cleansing and forgiveness.
Next, we see God’s calling of Isaiah. The Lord asks “Whom shall I send? And who will go for us?” (6:8). Isaiah’s immediate response is—I’m here, I’m available, “send me!” (6:8.) God then sends Isaiah on a mission to give prophetic messages to His people—which is his purpose for the rest of his life (6:9ff).
Although many think of Isaiah solely as a prophet who prophesies warnings and significant consequences to Israel for their disobedience, he is also the prophet who was called by God to prophesy some of the most well-known words about the coming Messiah, Jesus:
Isaiah 9:2 The people walking in darkness have seen a great light; on those living in the land of deep darkness a light has dawned…6 For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders. And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. 7 Of the greatness of his government and peace there will be no end. He will reign on David’s throne and over his kingdom, establishing and upholding it with justice and righteousness from that time on and forever. The zeal of the Lord Almighty will accomplish this.
Isaiah 53:4 Surely he took up our pain and bore our suffering, yet we considered him punished by God, stricken by him, and afflicted. 5 But he was pierced for our transgressions, he was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was on him, and by his wounds we are healed.
6 We all, like sheep, have gone astray, each of us has turned to our own way; and the Lord has laid on him the iniquity of us all.
And, Isaiah also had the privilege of prophesying words from which many have drawn comfort over the generations like this familiar passage:
Isaiah 40:28 Do you not know? Have you not heard? The Lord is the everlasting God, the Creator of the ends of the earth. He will not grow tired or weary, and his understanding no one can fathom. 29 He gives strength to the weary and increases the power of the weak. 30 Even youths grow tired and weary, and young men stumble and fall; 31 but those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint.
Isaiah 53:1 Who has believed our message and to whom has the arm of the Lord been revealed?
2 He grew up before him like a tender shoot and like a root out of dry ground. He had no beauty or majesty to attract us to him, nothing in his appearance that we should desire him. 3 He was despised and rejected by mankind, a man of suffering, and familiar with pain. Like one from whom people hide their faces he was despised, and we held him in low esteem.
Isaiah’s calling appears to be rooted in his “qualities”—humility, his repentance, his right view of God as Holy, his worship, his obedience. He is also available and willing. It appears that the Lord cares more about his (and our) character attributes (qualities) instead of our credentials (qualifications). Where can you perhaps make the shift to focus more on your character than your credentials? Where are you, with regard to understanding God’s purpose for your life, willing and available to say, “Here I am; send me!”?
Additional Resources:
· Gifts-Calling-Purpose blog: https://godgiftsyou.com/blog/
· Downloadable Resources: https://godgiftsyou.com/resources/
o See Sample List of Interest Areas; Your Spiritual Gifts—A Study Guide; Knowing Your Unique Calling and Purpose Study Guide; Whole-Life Ministry: A Form of Worship, Grace-Giving, and Living into Your Calling.
· Spiritual Gifts Assessment: https://godgiftsyou.com/assessment/
Shirley Giles Davis, author of the God. Gifts. You. Your Unique Calling and Design workbook, is a consultant, coach, facilitator who has worked with faith-based organizations, nonprofit agencies, and law enforcement leadership for over 30 years. Shirley has been EquipConnectServe Director at First Pres Boulder since 1999. She has worked with leaders and organizations in 47 of the United States as well as having clients outside the U.S. Contact Shirley.