“Then I heard the voice of the Lord saying: “Whom shall I send? Who will go for Us?” And I said: “Here am I. Send me!””ISAIAH 6:8 · BSB · READ ISAIAH 6:1–8 →
You can't truly say “Send me” until you've seen God's holiness, seen your sin, and felt the coal.
Isaiah had already been prophesying for five chapters when this happened. Chapter 6 isn't his conversion. It's his recalibration. Even people who serve God need to see Him again.
See the Lord, high and exalted
ISAIAH 6:1–4 →In the year King Uzziah died, Isaiah saw the Lord seated on a throne. Earthly thrones empty; His never does. The seraphim cried, “Holy, holy, holy is the LORD of Hosts,” and the doorposts shook.
- Loss can be the moment we finally look up.
- Holiness is the attribute Scripture repeats three times.
See yourself honestly
ISAIAH 6:5 →“Woe is me, for I am ruined.” Isaiah's first response to God's holiness was not excitement but undoing. A clear sight of God always brings a clear sight of ourselves.
- Conviction is a gift, not a punishment.
- He names the specific sin: unclean lips.
Receive the coal
ISAIAH 6:6–7 →A seraph took a live coal from the altar and touched Isaiah's lips: “your iniquity is removed and your sin is atoned for.” The fire that could have consumed him cleansed him. The altar points to the cross.
- God cleanses the very place of our shame.
- Atonement is God's work, not ours.
Answer the call
ISAIAH 6:8 →“Whom shall I send? Who will go for Us?” Isaiah's answer came only after the coal: “Here am I. Send me!” Cleansed people become willing people.
- God's call is an invitation, not a draft.
- Availability matters more than ability.
- Spend time this week in worship focused only on God's holiness.
- Confess one specific sin you've been minimizing.
- Pray Isaiah's answer honestly over your week: “Here am I. Send me!”
- When did you last see God in a way that undid you?
- Why does cleansing come before calling?
- Where might God be asking you to say “Send me” right now?
Holy, holy, holy Lord, I've seen how far I am from You. Touch my lips with Your fire and take away my guilt. And when You ask who will go, let my answer be: Here am I. Send me. Amen.