The Message, May 26, 2024: "Send Me," Isaiah 6:1-8

Author: Rev. Scott W. Cousineau
May 28, 2024

 

“Send Me”
A Message by Rev. Scott W. Cousineau
Isaiah 6:1-8

            In comedic movies and television shows across the years, you have likely seen the scene in which a coach, or a boss, or a commanding officer is looking for a volunteer for a job or an assignment. Typically, it is an undesirable job or assignment. The boss, or coach, or officer then asks that the volunteer take one step forward … but instead … everyone takes one step back … except for the poor soul that did not.

            Or you might remember those occasions when you were a child and a similar situation arose, and everyone yelled, “Not it!” except for the one who ended up being “It.”

            Or it could be the familiar church board or committee joke that the individual who is not at the meeting is the one who “volunteers” to be the chair of the board or committee.

            There are many variations on the same theme. Certain people are unwilling to be the one who raises their hand and says, “Pick me.”

            Obviously, none of those scenarios would be nearly as entertaining if Isaiah had been there.

            Since we are talking about comedic television and movies … are there any fans of the 1980s sitcom, “Welcome Back, Kotter,” here? Remember Arnold Horshack? For those of you who are unfamiliar, the show is based in an inner-city classroom full of kids too cool for school, and when Mister Kotter would ask a question, Horshack would raise his hand wildly … “Ooh! Ooh! Ooh! Pick me!!” (Yes, I went to Mister Kotter’s classroom as I read our passage from Isaiah.)

            But, I am getting ahead of myself.

            Last week, we had an opportunity to explore the Pentecost event. With the use of wind and balloons and excited children and youth we created a chaotic event of our own. The Holy Spirit of God swept into a room with the sound like a loud or mighty wind. Tongues or swords of flame hovered over the heads of the people gathered there. Scholars across the centuries agree that we do not know exactly what happened that day because the events were so fantastic! We are unable to articulate the incredibleness or the awesomeness of God’s Holy Spirit!

            This week, we have the opportunity to explore yet another incredibly, fabulous, and awesome event in Isaiah’s life.

            Isaiah had a vision. Scholars are not entirely certain what prompted the vision. It could have been associated with the death of King Uzziah. Uzziah had a long and successful rein … fifty-two years. His reign marked a period of stability in the Land of Judah. Uzziah oversaw agricultural projects that helped the people flourish. But he was far from perfect. He was arrogant, and decadent, and had a wicked temper. After Uzziah’s death, his son Jotham assumed the throne. Unfortunately for the people of Judah, Jotham was not as popular or as successful as his father.

            Whatever the circumstances were that led up to it … Isaiah had a vision; a vision that was likely more fantastic than the words that I read a few moments ago. Isaiah was in the God’s “palace” … the Temple … and Yahweh was there! Yahweh was there and Yahweh was MASSIVE!! Yahweh’s robe filled the entire Temple complex and Yahweh’s glory filled the entire earth!!

            And there were seraph, or seraphim. The word literally means “on fire” or “burning.” There are some descriptions of seraphim that say that they look like flying snakes or serpents with six wings. They were flying beside and around Yahweh … and they were singing the kadosh! “Holy, holy, holy is the Lord of hosts; the whole earth is full of his glory.” The kadosh is sung daily as part of the Jewish Morning Service.

            But wait … there is more.

            The sound of their singing was so loud it rattled and shook the doors on their hinges and the Temple was filled with smoke! Incredible! Fantastic! Extraordinary! Beyond description!

            And all Isaiah could do was say, “Woe is me! I am lost. I am dead. For I am a man of unclean lips, and I live among a people of unclean lips.”

            Isaiah thought that he would die. In the face of the awesomeness of God, he thought that his sins were so great that he would surely die. Isaiah may have had his life flash before his eyes. He may have seen every sinful act, every transgression, or every broken promise flash across his mind. Surely this was his day of judgment, and he would not stand.

            But, as we heard, Isaiah did stand. Isaiah did not perish. Quite the opposite. Yahweh God met Isaiah right where he was. God met him in his moment of greatest need and offered him grace. One of the seraphim performed a cleansing ritual upon Isaiah. His sin had been forgiven. His guilt had departed him.

            And then … cleansed, forgiven, set free from his guilt … Isaiah heard the Voice of God conferring with the seraphim, “Whom shall I send? Who will go for us?” “Whom shall I send?”

            It was then that Isaiah had his Horshack moment, “Ooh! Ooh! Here am I! Send me! I do not even know what the assignment is. I do not even know where you are sending me, or what you are asking me to do. Send me.”

            Now, you may recall that some others that God had called were not quite as eager to serve.
            Moses … “I am not eloquent of tongue.”
            Jeremiah … “I am too young.”
            Jonah … “No way. I do not like the Ninevites.”

            In those cases, and others … Abraham, Samuel, Gideon … God sought them out. God approached them and enlisted them with the promise that God would be with them. But not Isaiah. Isaiah heard God’s voice, and heard God’s need, and stepped forward. “Here am I. Send me.”

            That is where our passage ends. It is a good ending spot. It is a passage that we love to use on Mission Sunday, or when we call people to service. They are the words that form the basis of our closing hymn. But that is not where Isaiah’s vision ends. God’s next words actually give Isaiah instruction as to what his call, his commission, will be:

            “God said, ‘Go and tell this people: “‘Be ever hearing, but never understanding; be ever seeing, but never perceiving.’ Make the heart of this people calloused; make their ears dull and close their eyes. Otherwise, they might see with their eyes, hear with their ears, understand with their hearts, and turn and be healed.” (Isaiah 6:9-10)

            In other words, God was saying to Isaiah, “go and tell the people something that they do not want to hear. Go and deliver a difficult message. You will not be very popular, and you will not feel as though you are making any progress with them. This is not going to be an easy road. In fact, it will get worse before it gets better.”

             We know God gave Isaiah a glimpse of the future of Israel in that vision. Their country would be destroyed. The Temple would be in ruins. The people would be hauled off into captivity and exile in Babylon.

             A question for us to consider is, ‘Why do we not consider those additional verses?’ Are we afraid that God is not big enough or powerful enough to make a difference in a world filled with ‘people of unclean lips?’
             Are we afraid that the church cannot make a difference?
             Are we afraid that we cannot make a difference?

             Look at the world around us. There are plenty of acts of horror occurring all around us that would tell us that we live in a world full of people of unclean lips. We might even say that we are worse off than we were in Isaiah’s day and age. Should we feel discouraged? Overwhelmed by the enormity of the problems of today? Should we think that we or God are not up to the task?

             The answer to all of those questions is “No.”

             No. Because God is bigger than any earthly problem. God love is greater any earthly hateful ugliness.

            Certainly, it may seem as though we cannot possibly make a difference in our world today, but God is with us. God is steadfast and true. God is faithful and always has been. The power of the Holy Spirit is just as powerful as it was in Moses’ day, in Isaiah’s day, and as it was on the Day of Pentecost.

             Should we answer the call to serve? Should we step forward and say, “Here am I. Send me,” when we hear God’s voice? Yes, absolutely.

             And why is that? Because God is with us. God is always with us, no matter what.

            When Jesus sent his disciples, he told them that the Way would not be easy. But he also assured them that he would send the “Advocate” someone to stand with you in the time of trial. He said that he would not leave them orphaned; that he would come to them. (John 14: 16, 18)

            When we hear the Voice of God say, “Whom shall I send?” Our answer will be, “Send me, O God. Send us.” Amen.

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