Isaiah 6:8-10
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.” And he said, “Go, and say to this people: “‘Keep on hearing, but do not understand; keep on seeing, but do not perceive.’ Make the heart of this people dull, and their ears heavy, and blind their eyes; lest they see with their eyes, and hear with their ears, and understand with their hearts, and turn and be healed.”
English Standard Version (ESV)
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This verse isn't just about Isaiah volunteering; it reveals God's heart for His mission. The way God phrases the question, "Whom shall I send, and who will go for us?" highlights that this isn't a task God needs help with, but a sacred council where He invites participation, even revealing a plurality within Himself that invites us into His redemptive purposes.
After Isaiah’s stunning vision of God’s glory and his own uncleanness, he is purified by a seraph. He then hears the Lord asking who will go on a mission, prompting Isaiah’s immediate and willing response. This exchange sets the stage for God to commission Isaiah with a difficult, long-term prophecy of judgment and limited hope for Israel.
When God asks, 'Whom shall I send?' it's not because He's unsure. It's an invitation.
The question 'Whom shall I send, and who will go for us?' is a profound moment. It reveals that God, in His sovereignty, actively seeks willing participants for His divine purposes. This isn't a sign of God's weakness or indecision, but rather a deliberate choice to involve humanity in His redemptive plan. The use of 'us' is significant, hinting at the plurality within the Godhead, and underscoring that God's work is a cooperative endeavor, even if the ultimate authority rests with Him.
A Divine Invitation
The Weight of the Question
In the face of overwhelming holiness, how can Isaiah so readily say 'Here am I!'?
Isaiah's immediate and unqualified response, 'Here am I! Send me,' is a powerful testament to transformation. Moments before, he was undone by God's holiness, crying out, 'Woe is me! For I am lost; for I am a man of unclean lips.' Yet, after his cleansing by the seraph with a burning coal from the altar, his entire perspective shifts.
From Fear to Faith
Understand the original words
Adonay · Hebrew Noun
In the Old Testament, this title refers to God's authority as Master or Owner. It signifies total sovereignty and lordship over creation and the individual.
lebab · Hebrew Noun
Refers to the inner person, including the mind, will, emotions, and conscience. It is the seat of moral choices and the center from which one relates to or rejects God.
shub · Hebrew Verb
The act of repentance; turning away from sin and toward God. It signifies a fundamental change of direction in one's life and allegiance.
rapha · Hebrew Verb
The state of being restored to wholeness or health, specifically referring to spiritual and covenantal restoration. It implies the reversal of the consequences of sin.
This vision occurs at a critical juncture in Judah's history, following the death of a long-reigning king and amidst rising regional instability. Isaiah's commissioning highlights the difficult task of delivering God's message to a people increasingly resistant to His will.
c. 750-740 BC
Reign of King Uzziah
Isaiah begins his prophetic ministry during the prosperous but increasingly spiritually compromised reign of King Uzziah of Judah. Uzziah was known for his military successes and building projects, but also for his pride that led him to intrude into the priesthood's duties.
c. 740 BC— this verse
Death of King Uzziah
The death of King Uzziah marks a significant political and spiritual shift for Judah. This event serves as the backdrop for Isaiah's profound visionary experience.
c. 740 BC
Isaiah's Heavenly Vision
In the year King Uzziah died, Isaiah experiences a transformative vision of God's glory in the temple, leading to his cleansing and commissioning as a prophet.
c. 740 BC onwards
Prophetic Ministry Begins
Isaiah accepts God's call, understanding the difficult message he must deliver to a people whose hearts are becoming hardened. His ministry spans several decades, including periods of Assyrian threat.
This verse also uses the plural "us" when God speaks about creation, mirroring Isaiah's vision of God's divine council and hinting at the plurality within the Godhead.
1 Kings 22:19This passage describes Micaiah's vision of the Lord on His throne with the heavenly hosts, providing a similar backdrop of divine council and heavenly activity to Isaiah's commission.
Matthew 28:19Jesus' Great Commission echoes Isaiah's call, as He sends His disciples in the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, underscoring the Trinitarian nature of God's sending and mission.
Acts 9:15When Ananias is called to minister to Saul (Paul), the Lord specifically states that Saul is a 'chosen instrument' to carry His name before Gentiles and kings, much like Isaiah was chosen for a difficult prophetic task.
Romans 10:15This verse directly quotes and applies Isaiah's commission, asking 'How beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news!' highlighting the vital role and readiness required of those sent by God.
barnesIsaiah 6:8: "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."
The voice of the Lord - Hebrew: "The voice of Yahweh." He had before been addressed by one of the seraphim. Whom shall I send, and who will go for us? - The change of number here, from the singular to the plural, is very remarkable. Jerome, on this place, says that it indicates the 'sacrament' of the Trinity. The Septuagint renders it, 'whom shall I send, and who…
jfbIsaiah 6:8: "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."
- I … us—The change of number indicates the Trinity (compare Ge 1:26; 11:7). Though not a sure argument for the doctrine, for the plural may indicate merely majesty, it accords with that truth proved elsewhere.Whom … who—implying that few would be willing to bear the self-denial which the delivering of such an unwelcome message to the Jews would require on the p…
This verse isn't just about Isaiah volunteering; it reveals God's heart for His mission. The way God phrases the question, "Whom shall I send, and who will go for us?" highlights that this isn't a task God needs help with, but a sacred council where He invites participation, even revealing a plurality within Himself that invites us into His redemptive purposes.
After Isaiah’s stunning vision of God’s glory and his own uncleanness, he is purified by a seraph. He then hears the Lord asking who will go on a mission, prompting Isaiah’s immediate and willing response. This exchange sets the stage for God to commission Isaiah with a difficult, long-term prophecy of judgment and limited hope for Israel.
After Isaiah’s stunning vision of God’s glory and his own uncleanness, he is purified by a seraph. He then hears the Lord asking who will go on a mission, prompting Isaiah’s immediate and willing response. This exchange sets the stage for God to commission Isaiah with a difficult, long-term prophecy of judgment and limited hope for Israel.
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The Ardor of the Consecrated
c. 734-732 BC
Syro-Ephraimite War
Isaiah advises King Ahaz against an alliance with Syria and Israel, urging trust in God alone. This war brings significant devastation and fear to Judah.
c. 722 BC
Fall of Samaria
The Northern Kingdom of Israel (Samaria) is conquered by the Assyrian Empire, resulting in the exile of the ten tribes. This event serves as a stark warning to Judah.
c. 701 BC
Assyrian Siege of Jerusalem
Under King Hezekiah, Jerusalem is besieged by the Assyrian army led by Sennacherib. Isaiah's prophecies play a crucial role during this crisis.
"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.” And he said, “Go, and say to this people:
“‘Keep on hearing, but do not understand;
keep on seeing, but do n…" — This verse isn't just about Isaiah volunteering; it reveals God's heart for His mission. The way God phrases the question, "Whom shall *I* send, and who will go *for us*?" highlights that this isn't…