One cannot fully understand this verse without the knowledge of the preceding verses. This Chapter shows how Prophet Isaiah began his prophetic ministry through a vision in the year king Uzziah died in the book of Isaiah.
Isaiah which means God is salvation in the Hebrew language was a man of purpose and wanted that purpose to be of the Lord. He was working according to his divine mission. He saw how the Lord of host was seated on the throne, high and exalted, and the train of his robe filled the temple.
The Lord desired a messenger to deliver a message to the nation of Judah, Isaiah volunteered and he received God’s call. Meanwhile, our good king was preparing Isaiah for his cleansing and commission.
In the process, Isaiah’s sin was made known by himself, and was broken about it. He knew he was a sinner and needed to be forgiven. He who must come to the Lord must come with clean hands. He confessed his sins and he was forgiven.
This passage shows that no one is a nonentity before our living God. He desires who He uses at any time. John 15:16 says, but you must first have a willing heart. Let’s deep dive to learn more about this verse.
Who wrote Isaiah 6:8 and when was it written?
Isaiah 6:8 was written by King Hezekiah. It was written between 739 and 681 B.C according to some historian.
What is the context of Isaiah 6?
The context of Isaiah 6 illustrates Isaiah’s conviction, cleansing and call.
He was re-called to be a messenger of our God to the people of Israel and this call narratives was triggered by the death of king uzziah of judah in 724 BC. The Lord needed a messenger to deliver a word to the people of Judah and Isaiah responded to the call in Verse 8 saying, “Here am I! Send me”
God speaks mostly through His prophets. Thus, he gave Isaiah the golden opportunity to pass a message to the people of Judah. He desires willing and faithful stewards in His vineyard and Isaiah volunteered to take up this opportunity.
Before now, Isaiah’s words were that he saw in a vision the Lord sitting on a throne, high and lifted, and the train of His robe filled the temple. However, in the Old Testament or in some traditions, to see the Lord is to die.
No one is worthy to see the Lord face to face. Just as Moses is in the burning bush, Isaiah points out his guilt which would hinder him from accomplishing his purpose. He knew he had a challenge that needed urgent attention.
He made known his unworthiness, sinful nature, and he experienced God’s forgiveness when he came into the presence of Holy God, Isaiah’s confession was
“Woe is me, for I am undone! Because I am a man of unclean lips, and I dwell in the midst of a people of unclean lips; for my eyes have seen the King, the Lord of hosts.”
Isaiah was pained and broken by this sinful act while our great king was preparing him for the commission and cleansing.
Angelic beings is the Seraph that flew to him having in his hand a live burning coal from the altar, touches Isaiah’s mouth and said “Behold, this has touched your lips; your iniquity is taken away, and your sin purged”.
It is of utmost importance to note that Isaiah’s guilt could not be removed or undone by himself. The sacrifice was made at the altar and the sanctification was done on his lips making him acceptable as God’s minister.
According to Isaiah’s vision, he was able to hear, see, and talk with God after he has been cleansed. Our lips are unclean and not fit to stand in awe of God just like Isaiah.
We cannot approach God without first accepting Him. As easy as salvation is, we must take responsibility for confessing our sins to Him (Jesus).
As soon as Isaiah was cleansed, God inquires of him saying “whom shall I send, and who will go for us? God seeks people who are willing and ready to reveal themselves. Even though, He knows our hearts.
God knows Isaiah‘s heart, He wanted him to make his choice. The scripture tells us in Jeremiah 1:5 “Before I formed you in the womb I knew you; before you were born I sanctified you; ordained you a prophet to the nations.”
Isaiah was willing to deliver the message without hesitation because his heart yearns after God. He responded in the affirmative, he says, “Send me! He submitted to God and His words.
God instructed Isaiah to predict the destruction of his people and also preach restoration of hope to the remnant of Judah.
What is the message of Isaiah 6:8?
The message of Isaiah 6:8 is about knowing our purpose in life and our response towards it. We are called to serve others in love and our response to God’s purpose is to express our faith through our daily lives either in our workplace or community.
Believer’s today are to serve God by reaching out to others in love daily. Our service must be done from the heart and not through lip service. Just like Isaiah, without delay or coercion, he served God willing.
The whole earth we live in is chaotic, so we might not be able to discern our purpose rightly. There are lots of distractions contending with our attention but we must not give in.
Great men in the holy bible such as Moses, Jeremiah, Samuel, Paul, and Peter all heard a call and had a purpose which they all fulfilled. Being a disciple of Christ means dying to self and being alive to God’s will and purpose for us.
It is not an easy path, it might bring resistance and rejection from people around you but be rest assured that God will uphold you, and you will finish strong.
God’s call does not come only through vision like Isaiah. It could come from reading a book, during worship, or through a still small voice within us. We must be able to listen and discern where or what He wants us to do.
Isaiah’s call admonishes us to consider our calling as priceless. God seeks willing hearts and faithful stewards. However, we need to be sensitive to the voice of the Lord and discern where He is sending us as God‘s invitation always gives a sense of purpose which in turn transforms our lives and communities.
“Also I heard the voice of the Lord, saying: “Whom shall I send? meaning
Also I heard the voice of the Lord, saying: “Whom shall I send is about God searching for a worthy messenger who is willing to serve Him faithfully. The one who will proclaim Him and His word throughout the world.
He was looking for the person to send, He wants to reach out to the world, and his eager to do so through willing people. God knows all things because He created us.
He knows the person who is serving Him faithfully and those who serve with their lips but He is waiting for prepared hearts to show themselves. The heart of this people must be cleansed and yearn after God and the things of His kingdom.
These days, many hear the voice of the Lord but pretend not to while others hear His voice but feel they are not prepared or mature to answer such call. Just like when Moses was called in the book of Exodus 3:1-11 and he felt he was unworthy because he lacked eloquence and has inferiority.
Jeremiah, also thought he was only a youth. (Jeremiah 1:4-19) and Apostle Paul in the new testament who was persecuting the Christians and God called him so he could convert the gentiles from their evil ways to God (Acts 9:3-5).
“And who will go for us?” Then I said, here am I! Send me” meaning
“And who will go for us?” Then I said, here am I! Send me.” means Isaiah was already waiting for such call and when it came, He answered the call.
Isaiah was here on earth for a purpose and he desired that the purpose will be for God.
Isaiah’s heart was longing for God and when the opportunity came, he jumped on it.
He had been in God’s presence before now knew he was a sinful man who needed to ask God for forgiveness before he could approach God, his heart was touched with the cleansing fire of God and he yielded to God’s call through service.
Many people are eager to respond to God’s voice when He calls them but will not be patient for the Lord to send them.
Most people hear themselves and not God. They just go when they hear the voice without a willing heart and at the end, they fail woefully. There is a purpose for each call and to whom is He sending you to?
Exodus 3: 17-21 tells us how God sent Moses to the children of Israel when they were in captivity in Egypt and also to their task master.
And I have said I will bring you up out of the affliction of Egypt to the land of the Canaanites and the Hittites and the Amorites and the Perizzites and the Hivites and the Jebusites, to a land flowing with milk and honey.” Then they will heed your voice; and you shall come, you and the elders of Israel, to the king of Egypt; and you shall say to him, ‘The Lord God of the Hebrews has met with us; and now, please, let us go three days’ journey into the wilderness, that we may sacrifice to the Lord our God. But I am sure that the king of Egypt will not let you go, no, not even by a mighty hand. So I will stretch out My hand and strike Egypt with all My wonders which I will do in its midst; and after that he will let you go. And I will give this people favor in the sight of the Egyptians; and it shall be, when you go, that you shall not go empty-handed.”
God is looking for volunteers! Psalm 104:4 says, “Who makes His angels spirits,
His ministers a flame of fire.” He could easily raise stones to do His works because He is all-powerful. His holy angels are spirits, they are at His command. He can change them into the wind to carry out His will.
No wonder the scripture says in Psalms 8: 4 “What is man that you are mindful of him, and the son of man that You visit him?” We are nothing before God. We should count it a great opportunity and privilege to be God’s stewards.
Psalm 34: 4- 6 tells us “Delight yourself also in the Lord, and He shall give you the desires of your heart. Commit your way to the Lord, trust also in Him, and He shall bring it to pass.
He shall bring forth your righteousness as the light, and your justice as the noonday.” Remember, God can carry out His will and plans without you and me.
What is the difference in biblical translations of Isaiah 6:8 (NKJV, KJV, NIV & ESV)?
Isaiah 6:8 New King James Version biblical translation “Also I heard the voice of the Lord, saying: “Whom shall I send, and who will go for us?” Then I said, “Here am I! Send me.”
Isaiah 6:8 King James Version biblical translation “
Also I heard the voice of the Lord, saying, Whom shall I send, and who will go for us? Then said I, Here am I; send me.
Isaiah 6:8 New International Version biblical translation “Then I heard the voice of the Lord saying, “Whom shall I send? And who will go for us?” And I said, “Here am I. Send me!”
Isaiah 6:8 English Standard Version biblical translation “ And I heard the voice of the Lord saying, “Whom shall I send, and who will go for us?” Then I said, “Here I am! Send me.”
There is no difference in the four translations between NKJV, KJV, NIV and ESV
The three translations are written almost the same way and they have the similar meaning.
How do I apply Isaiah 6:8 to my life?
Applying Isaiah 6:8 to my life is to know your purpose and calling in life. One must be disciplined and focus so as not to digress.
God is our creator who knows what we will all become. Although, it is not easy to live one’s calling but you must be at peace that He (God) who sent you will go before you, walk with you, and walk through you because He knows the end from the beginning. Hence, we must be willing and joyously do what God asks of us.
Are you willing to do His will? Come to Him with a clean heart. Be willing and ready to go where He sends you even if the task seems impossible or at a difficult time.
The scripture says in I Corinthians 10:13 “ No temptation has overtaken you except such as is common to man; but God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will also make the way of escape, that you may be able to bear it.” He will never leave you nor forsake you.
Just as Isaiah asked for forgiveness because he knew he was a man of unclean lips and God sanctified him by touching his lips with hot coal of fire and he was made clean before he was able to approach God to send him.
You also need to come to God just as you are. He is willing to accept you and forgive you. No one can come to Him with an unclean heart.
What is Isaiah 6:8 prayer?
Holy Father, You who sits in the throne of heaven, thank You for cleansing me with the blood of Your son Jesus. Thank You for the gift of the Holy Ghost that resides in me to do Your will and good pleasures.
You know what I will become because You know my end from the beginning. I am ready to obey You and to go where ever You send me just like Isaiah. Help me to carry out every task swiftly and with urgency.
Help me to spread and witness your word of encouragement and love to others in words and action. Thereby, making an impact in this dying world. This I pray through Christ our Lord. AMEN.
Conclusion
God does not force anyone to serve Him. He is looking for faithful stewards who will witness the gospel of good news to the ends of the earth. When we serve others, we are serving God.
Our mission or vocation on earth is to touch the lives of people by seeing it as God’s work. Thus, it must glorify Him. However, you can only approach God only when you have accepted Him as your Lord and saviour and your sins will be forgiven.
Are you willing to say here I am, send me? Are you willing to go wherever He sends you? Isaiah’s response of Here I am send me was what God was waiting for. God is waiting for your response also. Respond to His call and you will be glad you did.
