“Here Am I. Send me!”

“Here Am I. Send Me!”(Is.6:1-9a).
This week’s reflections is on God’s call and man’s response. We have moved from Moses to Abram, to David and today is Isaiah.
Today we are reflecting on the call of prophet Isaiah. Isaiah saw “the Holy One of Israel” in a vision “seated on a throne, high and exalted, and the train of his robe filled the temple.” As soon as Isaiah felt the presence of the LORD he was overwhelmed by his sins and he cried, “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.” Isaiah had to be dismayed because according to the teaching of the Torah anyone who saw God expected to die immediately(Gen.32:30; Ex.33:20).
A Seraph took a live-coal with tongs of fire from the alter and touched Isaiah’s mouth and said, “See, this has touched your lips; your guilt is taken away and your sins atoned for.” Lesson: God does not choose perfect human beings; because there is none who is perfect. God takes us as we are, to make us what he wants us to become. When he wants us, he purifies us to make us fit for his use. He takes away the guilt that makes captives of us.
It was only after the purification that the LORD himself spoke to Isaiah, “Whom shall I send? And who will go for us?” And Isaiah said, “Here am I. Send me!”
See how rebirth brings in sudden transformation, freshness, impetus and zeal for service! Here is a man who thought that he was about to die because he had seen the LORD as a sinner. The live-coal was taken from the alter where the sacrifice of atonement was burnt. Isaiah’s sins were atoned for in the same way that Christ has died as an atonement for our sins. Those who acknowledge their sinfulness are purified and their guilt taken away from them.
My friend, how is your standing before the LORD? Are you a sinner living among sinners? Acknowledge your sins to the LORD. He will cleanse you by the atoning blood of the Lamb. He will free you from guilt, and when he asks, Whom shall I send?; let his Spirit trudge you on as you say, “Here am I. Send me!”
The commission from the LORD is: “Go and tell this people” of unclean lips:…
Prayer: LORD, thank you for the Grace that has taken away my guilt and atoned for my sin. Here am I. Send me. Amen!
Have a blessed day! Peace be with you!
Rev Babila Fochang.
21/01/2025.