
Pastor Christopher Brock
January 18, 2025
Isaiah 6:8, New Living Translation
“Then I heard the Lord asking, ‘Whom should I send as a messenger to these people? Who will go for us?’ I said, ‘Here I am. Send me.’”
I have heard many Christians talk about how they want to go and do works for the Lord. I have been in meetings and conversations in which the people spoke with excitement about getting to go and do great things for the Kingdom of God. When I have been in these situations, it is almost as though the people would have an excitement to see God do great things and they were sure that if it was God sending them then it would be a fun and exciting adventure full of success and prosperity. The Lord will give people directions on the work that they are to do and our prayers are often that we would give us the same response that Isaiah would give when the Lord was looking for someone willing to do the work. Isaiah responded by saying, “Here I am. Send me.” Those can be easy words to say, and they can make us feel bold and full of faith, but far too often people do not grasp the seriousness of this commitment.
Let’s consider the situation surrounding this passage. Isaiah was given a detailed vision from the Lord in which he responded to the plan of the Lord. Did the mission that Isaiah agreed to do for the Lord involve excitement, victory, and prosperity? Let us read the message that the Lord spoke to Isaiah,
“And he said, ‘Yes, go, and say to these people, ‘Listen carefully, but do not understand. Watch closely, but learn nothing.’ Harden the hearts of these people. Plug their ears and shut their eyes. That way, they will not see with their eyes, nor hear with their ears, nor understand with their hearts and turn to me for healing.’ Then I said, ‘Lord, how long will this go on?’ And he replied, ‘Until their towns are empty, their houses are deserted, and the whole country is a wasteland; until the Lord has sent everyone away, and the entire land of Israel lies deserted. If even a tenth—a remnant—survive, it will be invaded again and burned. But as a terebinth or oak tree leaves a stump when it is cut down, so Israel’s stump will be a holy seed.’” (Isaiah 6:9-13, NLT)
Does that sound like a message that you would be excited to deliver to a group of people? I imagine many people feel so excited and empowered to have said yes to the Lord’s call and then when they heard this message they would be completely deflated. You want me to go and tell the people what? How can I send a message like that to them? That isn’t fun and exciting! That doesn’t sound victorious and prosperous! That isn’t what I signed up for, Lord!
There is one thing that we can clearly see in common when we consider Isaiah and all of the characters that we see within the Bible, the road that they walked was not an easy one. In each story we see difficult situations in which they had to put their faith and hope in the Lord. Are you willing to say yes to the Lord today and do what He has called you to do? It may not be glamorous, it may be filled with danger and hardship, and it may even result in suffering. Most importantly, however, we should not be followers of Christ because of what we can gain for ourselves—we should be followers because He is worthy, and we love Him more than anything else. Ask yourself, are you willing to say, “Here I am. Send me.” And then do what Lord sends you to do?