For the record, here is the link to the study material for the final one for this 3/4:

http://ssnet.org/qrtrly/eng/08c/less13nkjv.html

When I was studying the lesson quarterly this week I was really blessed in seeing the process of Isaiah’s calling. His first response when coming into God’s presence was a feeling of total inadequacy and an acute self awareness. His response to God was, “I am undone!”

What does God do? He tells Isaiah that his sins are purged. This is interesting because God didn’t give Isaiah a frontal lobotomy and extract his sinful nature. Isaiah didn’t become instantly sinless. So what does God mean when He says, “Your sins are forgiven”? He simply means that they aren’t a problem for Him. “Isaiah, I know you feel inadequate and self aware because of your past failures and thoughts, but these aren’t an issue for me. Know that I forgive you. I don’t hold them against you. I will enable you to speak for me in spite of your past.”

And then what happens when Isaiah accepts God’s forgiveness, God’s character of forgiveness, God’s graciousness? He responds with, “Here am I, send me!”

Knowing God’s grace is enabling because it destroys the damage our sins have done to our self worth and our confidence. I’m sure that everything that Isaiah spoke or did from that point on didn’t represent God’s heart, but God chose to be represented by him anyway and God wasn’t ashamed to be called our Father.

That’s just the way He is!

scott

Nice thoughts, Scott. Our fear, because of our failings, is paralyzing. Learning that we need not fear God, but can trust in His love and strength can free us to accomplish something in the cause of God. What a great privilege!

Thanks Tom,

It is a privilege to work for God!

In the parable of the talents it was fear of the master that caused the unfaithful servant to bury his talents. He said to the master, "I knew you were harsh and exacting so I buried my share!"

Knowing God's love towards us is empowering.

scott

That's an interesting parable. Of course God is not harsh and exacting, but much of the Bible is written from this perspective, because that is the idea that many have. It took Jesus Christ to demonstrate that truth, that even the wicked have nothing for fear from God.

Believing God is harsh and exacting is paralyzing. I've seen bosses who are very critical and it isn't long before no one will make a decision. They are too afraid to make a mistake. Being an employer, I'm really careful not publicly correct someone. It is important to give a lot more praise and encouragement that even constructive criticism.

How much more so with God? We emulate the God we believe in so if our God is petty we become petty with ourselves and others. If the God we worship is like Jesus then we become like Jesus.

scott

That's a good practice, Scott. If you praise people publicly, but offer constructive criticism privately, they'll respect you.

Waggoner has a wonderful thing where he talks about this in the book "The Everlasting Covenant." It doesn't look like this book is online.

I re-read it, but it didn't say what I was hoping to find. The idea is that friends share mutual confidences, and is we confide in the Lord, He will keep our confidences, and, in fact, the only way we can keep our sins a secret is to allow Him to bring them to our attention and heal us from them. So if we trust in the Lord, and share our secrets with Him, they will remain secret, but if we don't, they will come out and become known to all.

Anyway, your idea about not criticizing your employees in public made me think of this.

Getting back to Isaiah's response after seeing God in vision, I think of Moses' response after having in the flesh experienced God at the burning bush.

Why wasn't Moses' response the same as Isaiah's?

Hi Daryl,

It does seem that Moses was more reluctant that Isaiah. He even argued with God! He did finally, reluctantly, agree to go.

Maybe he was more skeptical because of his disappointment attached to the first time he tried to free Israel in his own strength. He must have been taught as a child that he was the deliverer and then to have his hopes dashed and finally quenched by 40 years of shepherding in the wilderness.

He must have needed 40 years in the wilderness to unlearn what Egypt taught him the first 40 years of his life.

scott

And then there was Jeremiah's similar response to that of Moses' response.