A new calling

James Cathcart September 09, 2026 6 0

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Isaiah 6: 1–8 (NIV-UK)

1 In the year that King Uzziah died, I saw the Lord, high and exalted, seated on a throne; and the train of his robe filled the temple. 2 Above him were seraphim, each with six wings: with two wings they covered their faces, with two they covered their feet, and with two they were flying. 3 And they were calling to one another:

‘Holy, holy, holy is the Lord Almighty;
    the whole earth is full of his glory.’

4 At the sound of their voices the doorposts and thresholds shook and the temple was filled with smoke.

5 ‘Woe to me!’ I cried. ‘I am ruined! For I am a man of unclean lips, and I live among a people of unclean lips, and my eyes have seen the King, the Lord Almighty.’

6 Then one of the seraphim flew to me with a live coal in his hand, which he had taken with tongs from the altar. 7 With it he touched my mouth and said, ‘See, this has touched your lips; your guilt is taken away and your sin atoned for.’

8 Then I heard the voice of the Lord saying, ‘Whom shall I send? And who will go for us?’

And I said, ‘Here am I. Send me!’

The Bible is not a book, it’s a place. It’s not something we read, it’s somewhere we go.

And in this place we meet all sorts of colourful, fascinating characters. Already this week we have met hopeless huckster on-the-run Jacob, and loner ex-con turned reluctant’s people’s champion Moses. Today we meet another huge figure in the Bible: the prophet Isaiah. 

In the Bible prophecy is a whole genre of social, religious and historical criticism where people empowered and inspired by God speak alternative takes on the past, present and future that call God’s people away from ruin and towards flourishing.

We often think of a prophet as someone who can predict the future. But the prophets we meet in the Bible are more concerned with speaking the truth. Even when that truth puts them in danger by threatening the status quo and the powers that be. Rather than a crystal ball, the biblical prophet’s tool is a mirror to hold up to society to show the injustice and oppression that is going on right now.

In this electric reading Isaiah has a vision of God's heavenly throne room, experiences cleansing from guilt, and accepts his calling. It’s overwhelming for him.

Who among us hasn’t felt unworthy at some point? Who hasn’t felt ‘imposter syndrome’? Who hasn’t reached adulthood and subsequently discovered we just have to wing it most of the time? Isaiah — a totemic figure in Biblical and world history — is vulnerable and full of doubt. 

And yet.

Who amongst us hasn’t also longed to step up to a challenge? To set aside the doubt, to take the leap? Who hasn’t longed for the ‘go ahead’ from someone, something, to give us the push we need, the permission granted, the nudge to get us off the diving board?

For all its apparent strangeness and ancientness and otherworldliness — the Bible is a profoundly human and humane thing full of profoundly human people — who are more often than not fallible, but also capable of extraordinary things.

God doesn’t seek out the brightest and best, those without any doubt or hesitation.

No.

God is simply looking for you.

Prayer:

Here we are God

We want to believe,

not only in you

but also ourselves.

Amen.