Isaiah Is Called

Isaiah 6:1-13

     There was a war in Israel and the country was divided into two kingdoms. The northern kingdom was called Israel. The southern kingdom was called Judah. There was a man in Judah whose name was Isaiah, and God called him to be a prophet.

     One day, while he was in the temple, Isaiah had a vision. He saw the Lord God seated on a high throne. God's robe filled the whole temple.

     All around God were fiery angels called seraphim, each with six wings. One pair of wings covered their faces. One pair covered their feet. With the other two wings they flew, calling to each other, "Holy, holy, holy is the Lord God of Hosts!  The whole earth is full of God's glory!"

     When the seraphim called to each other, the temple shook like an earthquake. The whole room was filled with smoke.

     Isaiah felt small and sinful when he looked at God and God's angels. he cried out, "There is no hope for me. I am a sinful man in a country of sinful people. Yet I have seen God with my own eyes!"

     Then one of the seraphim flew to Isaiah. He was carrying a hot, glowing coal that he had taken from the altar with a pair on tongs. He touched Isaiah's lips with the hot coal.

     Then the seraph said, "See, this has now touched your lips. You are not guilty now. Your sin is wiped away."

     Then Isaiah heard God's voice. "Whom shall I send? Who will go for me?"

     Isaiah answered, "Here I am. Send me."

     "Go and tell the people, "God said. "They may listen, but they will not understand."

     "How long, O Israel? asked Isaiah. "How long will it take for the people to understand?"

     God said, "Until the cities are ruined and are left without people in them. The whole country will be empty and sad."

     From that day Isaiah was a prophet of Judah. He told the people that they must listen to God or God would let their land be ruined.