Listening to the Lord

Midweek Study with Pastor Edith
January 14, 2025
Isaiah 6:1-8

During my time with a wonderful group of ladies at a nearby senior living apartment complex, I was so happy to hear a few of them say how blessed they feel when they help someone. It would be very easy for them, as it is often with many, to hibernate and isolate during these cold wintery days. What a joy to hear of some of their plans for this year to reach out and help others in our community to know the love of God. This is for me a fine example of what it means to take time to listen for the Lord’s calling.

Our passage for today tells us of a vision the prophet Isaiah has of being in the very presence of God. When he is overwhelmed by this experience, he comes to a point of confession; “Woe to me! I cried. 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.” Isaiah is confronted by the holiness of God and his own sinful state. This is a tough place to be, but, a holy moment indeed. God’s response to Isaiah’s confession is to send an angel to take a burning coal from the altar of sacrifice where an offering for sin has been completely burned up. Then God says; “See, this has touched your lips; your guilt is taken away and your sins are atoned for.” This symbolic action shows God’s mercy and call of Isaiah who now is no longer the man he was, but is now prepared to speak the word of God with clean lips and a pure heart. What happens next is such a sweet picture of God simply offering an opportunity that can be accepted or not, God leaves it up to Isaiah; “Whom shall I send? Who will go for us?” Notice, God is not addressing Isaiah directly, He is simply asking the question. Now, a new man, Isaiah answers, “Here am I. Send me!’

Oswald Chambers has a marvelous take on this; “The call of God is not for the special few, it is for everyone. Whether or not I hear God’s call depends upon the state of my ears; and what I hear depends upon my disposition…God did not lay a strong compulsion on Isaiah; Isaiah was in the presence of God and he overheard the call…If we let the Spirit of God bring us face to face with God, we too shall hear something akin to what Isaiah heard the still small voice of God; and in perfect freedom will say, ‘Here am I; send me.’”

May each of us take some time every day, to be still and listen, God is still calling.

Amen!