April Bible Study
The Calling of Isaiah by Giovanni Battista Tiepolo
Image Source: https://www.bible.gallery/art/Giovanni-Battista-Tiepolo/The-Calling-of-Isaiah/661/art-info
Faithful to His Calling
Most people desire to have success and significance in their life. They want to achieve goals and make a difference by improving their current situation, livelihood and community. They want to be a change agent making things better in the present, for the future, and leave a legacy and reputation that is honourable.
Isaiah has been deemed a great prophet of the Old Testament, where he worked tirelessly to be a change agent, speaking God’s message, and have people turn from their evil ways. Yet during his life, it appeared he had little success in changing people’s mindset and actions, resulting in having little significance. His nation of Judah would eventually fall in defeat to the Babylonians and his land would become desolate. So why would he continue in a life’s calling that would seemingly have limited results?
It is because Isaiah had a calling from God. Even the name given to him by his parents foretold his calling and life’s message. Isaiah means ‘God saves.’ The people of Judah needed to hear the message that God is the hope of their salvation, as they were drifting further from living as people of God. They instead turned their attention to other gods and lived lives pleasing to themselves, without upholding God’s values.
Their northern neighbours, Israel, were also turning their back on God, and faced impending doom by the Assyrians, providing added warning to the citizens of Judah to turn from their evil ways. They needed to acknowledge God as their one and only true God and place their hope in Him alone.
“Here am I, Send Me.”
Isaiah 6:8
Isaiah ministered through the reign of four kings of Judah: Uzziah, Jotham, Ahaz and Hezekiah. His calling came in the year Uzziah died approximately in 742 BC and his ministry lasted throughout the remaining eight century BC. He was motivated to continue in his ministry due to his vivid personal calling from God to be his messenger. Isaiah had a vision of God himself sitting on his throne, a God more impressive than he could imagine, with even God’s train from his robe filling the temple.
There were heavenly beings with six wings flying around the throne and they called out declaring, ‘Holy, Holy, Holy is the Lord Almighty; the whole earth is full of his glory,’ (Isaiah 6:3).
The holy God revealed himself to Isaiah, and Isaiah suddenly saw himself as compared to God, a human being who was unclean and who lived in a society of people who were not righteous. But God, through his faithfulness in bringing salvation, had a seraph, bring a coal from the altar to touch his lips and declare, ‘Your guilt is taken away and your sin atoned for,’ (Isaiah 6:7). God saved him. He was absolved of his sins and God then directed him in his life’s mission.
God asked who would go and tell his people to turn to God and acknowledge him as the one true God. Who would go to deliver the message of God’s salvation? Who would be his messenger? And without a hint of hesitation, Isaiah proclaimed, ‘Here am I, Send Me,’ (Isaiah 6:8). Isaiah saw a vision of God, saw his need of God, was cleansed by God and now was ready to share God’s message. Whether he was effective or not was up to God, Isaiah was simply to be faithful in his ministry.
Isaiah was the son of Amoz, a brother to King Amaziah, making him a cousin to King Uzziah. He had a royal education resulting in his eloquent words and descriptive messages. He had perceived societal success and influence, but now with his calling and ministry, he would have lasting significance, beyond his lifetime, calling future generations and gentiles to place their hope and salvation in God.
Faithful like Isaiah
As believers in Christ, we have had encounters with God, we have been cleansed and called to share our salvation story with others. We are commissioned to action to be change agents for God’s glory. General John Gowans summed up the Christian commission to ‘save souls, grow saints and serve suffering humanity.’ Whether we are students, employed, home makers or retired, we share our Christian call and commission. For some this includes a life of ministry as a Salvation Army Officer. May we each be faithful, like Isaiah, in our calling and commission sharing the hope of our salvation found in Jesus Christ.
Let us search our hearts:
- What do you consider successes in your life?
- What lasting legacy have you initiated during your life?
- What call from the Lord are you aware of ?
- How can you better have significance through what God wants you to do?
LIEUT. COLONEL NIGEL CROSS is the Chief Secretary of the Singapore, Malaysia, Myanmar, and Thailand Territory. He has a passion for the call to discipleship and helping individuals in their spiritual formation.