Who Will Go for Us?

This is the question God put to Isaiah in a vision, with full expectation of a positive response. It was obviously an invitation to Isaiah to take up the herculean task of being God’s spokesman to apostate Israel. In that vision, Isaiah was scared: “Woe to me, I am ruined …” (Isaiah 6:1-5) he cried, recognizing himself as “a man of unclean lips”, but in the vision had “seen the Lord Almighty.”

It is an indication of how remorseful and contrite he felt when he saw that contrast between God’s holiness and his sinfulness. Besides, he realized his lack of the attributes befitting the spokesman of such a majestic King.

This lowliness and self-condemnation made God initiate a preparatory phase for His servant. He sent “an angel with a live coal … touched my mouth” (verses 6,7). Figuratively, fire has purifying power (eg Isaiah 4:4; Zechariah 13:9; Malachi 3:2; 1 Peter 1:7). After applying the “live coal” from the heavenly fire to Isaiah’s lips, the angel assured him that his sins were atoned for (verse 7), so he could stand to obtain God’s favour. Unhesitatingly, Isaiah responded: “Here I am! Send me,” regardless of what the task might entail. He neither asked what he would gain by taking up the assignment nor made excuses for eschewing it.

How heartening this is for us! We, too, are sinful and unworthy to be entrusted with any divine duty. Nevertheless, we’ve been sanctified by the blood of Jesus through faith and baptism into him (Romans 6:3; 1 Corinthians 12:13; Galatians 3:27). Thus, we were enabled to approach God’s throne and receive His favour (Hebrews 4:16).

Isaiah’s willing spirit is a nice example for all of us today who have the commission to “go and preach to all nations” (Matthew 28:19), failure to do so may backfire on us. Regrettably, some are engrossed in worldly affairs, neglecting to carry out what has been entrusted to us. We have to stop that neglect (Matthew 24:14) despite the widespread unresponsiveness or resistance. “How can they hear without someone preaching to them?” (Romans 10:14).

Thus, the question “Who will go for us?” today is to you and me, to make it a point of responding: “To preach the ‘gospel of the kingdom of God’” knowing that “the harvest is plentiful but the workers are few.” We ignore this at our peril!

Bro Innocent E’engele (Nairobi, Kenya)