Isaiah had a profound encounter with God who was declared to be “holy, holy, holy,” by the seraphim. Whether we like it or not, every meeting with God requires a response. Isaiah responded with fear and despair, because he knew his attitudes and actions didn’t measure up to God’s character.
And I said, “Woe is me! I am lost, for I am a man of unclean lips, and I live among a people of unclean lips, yet my eyes have seen the King, the Lord of hosts!” (Isaiah 6:5).
God’s prophet pronounced six woes on the people of Judah (Isaiah 5), but the seventh woe was reserved for himself.
I often refer to myself as a “speck inspector,” based on Jesus’ parable in Matthew 7:3-5. A “speck inspector” can see the speck in another’s eye, but fails to notice the plank in his own.
Isaiah was not a critical “speck inspector,” when he decried the sins of the people in chapter 5. He was possibly the most righteous person in the nation. However, human righteousness is no match for God’s holiness.
His vision of God revealed “unclean lips.” Our speech reflects the character of our inner self.
“You brood of vipers! How can you speak good things when you are evil? For out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks.
The good person brings good things out of a good treasure, and the evil person brings evil things out of an evil treasure” (Matthew 12:34-35).
To have unclean lips reflects how our mind, will, and emotions are full of pride, self-will, and rebellion.
God’s Remedy
Isaiah didn’t ask God to forgive his sinful condition, but God graciously sent one of the seraphs to remedy his situation.
Then one of the seraphs flew to me, holding a live coal that had been taken from the altar with a pair of tongs.
The seraph touched my mouth with it and said, “Now that this has touched your lips, your guilt has departed and your sin is blotted out.”
Then I heard the voice of the Lord saying, “Whom shall I send, and who will go for us?” And I said, “Here am I; send me!” (Isaiah 6:6-8).
Anyone who has been burned knows the intense pain of the experience. Isaiah’s forgiveness was not pain free. He didn’t go through the literal burning of his lips, but he did encounter God’s transforming presence.
Jesus counseled humans who struggle with lust with these words: If your right eye causes you to sin, tear it out and throw it away; it is better for you to lose one of your members than for your whole body to be thrown into hell” (Matthew 5:29).
Jesus didn’t expect people to literally tear out one of their eyes and Isaiah didn’t experience a coal pressed to his lips, but both experiences reflect the pain of surrendering self-will to God’s lordship.
Forgiveness is an act of God, and it is free, but it is not pain free. It requires giving up our pride, sin, and rebellion.
A Difficult Task
Isaiah’s call to ministry has inspired countless sermons. Most of them conclude with verse 8. When ministers close their messages, they invite people who have heard the question, “Who will go for us?” to respond like Isaiah: “Here am I, send me.”
Verses 9 and 10 are especially challenging, particularly since Jesus quoted them in reference to His own ministry (See Matthew 13:14-15 and references in all the Gospels).
And he said, “Go and say to this people:
‘Keep listening, but do not comprehend;
keep looking, but do not understand.’
Make the mind of this people dull,
and stop their ears,
and shut their eyes,
so that they may not look with their eyes
and listen with their ears
and comprehend with their minds
and turn and be healed.” (Isaiah 6:9-10)
The question that has puzzled Bible students is: Why would a loving God design the prophet’s message to prevent people from responding to it? Even more so, why would Jesus’ message have the same results?
As we read the Gospels we discover three responses to what Jesus did and taught.
(1) Discipleship: There were men and women who heard Jesus’ message and followed Him. Discipleship in every generation involves living with Jesus and sharing His mission.
(2) *The Crowd: Crowds of people followed Jesus. Often, they were in awe of His miracles and teaching. However, they were impressed with His actions, that didn’t always translate into fully following Him.
After a particularly difficult message, we read: Because of this many of his disciples turned back and no longer went about with him (John 6:66).
The crowds were impressed enough to follow Jesus for a time, but they couldn’t see how His way of life was applicable to their own. The result was that they withdrew.
(3) The Opponents: Jesus arrived on planet earth to carry out God’s redemptive purpose for humanity. The devil, demons, political, and religious leaders opposed Him.
The disciples, crowd, and opponents witnessed the same teaching and actions of Jesus, yet with different responses. We can’t blame God for the failure of humans to respond to His gracious, saving work.
At the root of these divergent responses lies what is in the human heart.
Suppose you have spent your life reaching the pinnacle of success and power. Would you easily give that up to a man who taught things that challenged your theology? That may have been one of the motives of Jesus’ opponents.
What if you were desperate for healing or hope in a very harsh world? Jesus gives you a measure of hope, but then challenges you with these words: “If any wish to come after me, let them deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me” (Mark 8:34).
The crown may look attractive, but the cross is overwhelming. The result is that you hear Jesus’ message, fail to comprehend its benefits, and you walk away.
The disciples often failed to understand what Jesus was saying and doing, yet they continued walking with Him. They enjoyed His presence and willingly joined Him in His mission, even when it led to their own martyrdom.
Jesus and Isaiah invite us to join God in a relationship and mission. The question before us is whether we will respond in faith and faithfulness, or not.
YouTube Discussion
Rudy Ross, Bruce Kirby, and I discussed this passage on YouTube today.
Real Voices 