Called and Commissioned: Isaiah’s Vision of God’s Glory (Isaiah 6:1–13)
Have you ever had a moment that changed your life completely?
In Isaiah chapter 6, we read about one such moment. The prophet Isaiah has a powerful vision of God—a moment that leaves him in awe, changes his heart, and sets him on a new path.
This story shows us what happens when someone truly encounters God: they are humbled, cleansed, and called to serve.
Isaiah Sees God’s Glory
The chapter opens with Isaiah seeing something incredible:
“I saw the Lord, high and exalted, seated on a throne…” (Isaiah 6:1)
He sees God on His throne, with angels (called seraphim) flying around Him. These heavenly beings cry out:
“Holy, holy, holy is the Lord Almighty; the whole earth is full of His glory.”
Their voices shake the temple, and smoke fills the room. It’s clear—Isaiah is in the presence of a holy and powerful God.
Isaiah Feels Overwhelmed
Isaiah doesn’t respond with pride or excitement. Instead, he says:
“Woe to me! I am ruined! For I am a man of unclean lips…”
He suddenly realizes how small and sinful he is compared to God’s greatness. This is often how we feel when we truly see who God is—we become aware of our own weaknesses.
God Brings Forgiveness
One of the seraphim flies to Isaiah with a hot coal from the altar and touches his lips. The angel says:
“Your guilt is taken away and your sin atoned for.”
This shows us something important: God doesn’t leave us in our guilt—He forgives and makes us clean. Only then are we ready to be used by Him.
Isaiah Says “Send Me”
After this, Isaiah hears God ask:
“Whom shall I send? And who will go for us?”
Isaiah responds with one of the most famous lines in the Bible:
“Here am I. Send me!”
Because Isaiah has seen God and been forgiven, he’s now willing to serve. He doesn’t ask where he’s going or what it will cost—he just says yes.
The Hard Message
God gives Isaiah a difficult mission. He tells him that the people won’t listen, even though he will speak the truth. Their hearts are hard, and judgment is coming.
But even in the middle of this, God gives hope. He says that a small part—a “stump”—will remain. This is a sign that life and restoration will come again.
What This Means for Us
- When we truly see God, it changes how we see ourselves.
- God doesn’t wait for us to be perfect—He forgives and then sends.
- Answering God’s call may not always be easy, but it’s always worth it.
- Even when things look hopeless, God keeps a plan for future healing.
Final Thoughts
Isaiah’s story is a powerful reminder that God still calls people today. He still wants hearts that are open and willing. You don’t have to be the smartest or the strongest—you just have to say:
“Here I am. Send me.”
Maybe God is calling you right now—to serve, to speak, to love someone, or to stand for truth. Are you ready to answer?
Isaiah 6:1-13 (WEB)
6:1 In the year that King Uzziah died, I saw the Lord sitting on a throne, high and lifted up; and his train filled the temple. 2 Above him stood the seraphim. Each one had six wings. With two he covered his face. With two he covered his feet. With two he flew. 3 One called to another, and said,“Holy, holy, holy, is the LORD of Armies!The whole earth is full of his glory!”4 The foundations of the thresholds shook at the voice of him who called, and the house was filled with smoke. 5 Then I said, “Woe is me! For I am undone, because I am a man of unclean lips and I live among a people of unclean lips, for my eyes have seen the King, the LORD of Armies!”6 Then one of the seraphim flew to me, having a live coal in his hand, which he had taken with the tongs from off the altar. 7 He touched my mouth with it, and said, “Behold, this has touched your lips; and your iniquity is taken away, and your sin forgiven.”8 I heard the Lord’s voice, saying, “Whom shall I send, and who will go for us?”Then I said, “Here I am. Send me!”9 He said, “Go, and tell this people,‘You hear indeed,but don’t understand.You see indeed,but don’t perceive.’10 Make the heart of this people fat.Make their ears heavy, and shut their eyes;lest they see with their eyes,hear with their ears,understand with their heart,and turn again, and be healed.”11 Then I said, “Lord, how long?”He answered,“Until cities are waste without inhabitant,houses without man,the land becomes utterly waste,12 and the LORD has removed men far away,and the forsaken places are many within the land.13 If there is a tenth left in it,that also will in turn be consumed,as a terebinth, and as an oak whose stump remains when they are cut down,so the holy seed is its stump.”