Here I am, send me
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.”
Isaiah 6:8
What is the meaning of Isaiah 6:8?
Israel was facing a time of crisis. The Northern Kingdom had been conquered by the Assyrians and the people had been taken into exile. The Southern Kingdom of Judah was also facing the threat of invasion. The people of Israel were in entrenched in rebellion to God, having turned to worship idols and following the gods of the Canaanites. In the midst of the turmoil God called Isaiah to be his prophet: to proclaim judgment, and call God’s people to repentance.
A Vision of God’s Glory
Isaiah has a vision from the Lord. God is enthroned in the temple with seraphim (angels) surrounding him crying out “Holy, holy, holy is the Lord of hosts; the whole earth is full of his glory!” (Isaiah 6:3). Isaiah is cut to the heart. Standing before a holy God, he is convicted of his sinfulness and cries out in confession, “Woe is me! For I am lost; for I am a man of unclean lips, and I dwell in the midst of a people of unclean lips; for my eyes have seen the King, the Lord of hosts!” (Isaiah 6:5).
Being in the presence of an all powerful and holy God, convicts Isaiah of his inadequacy and his sin. This is a common theme throughout the scriptures. God calls people to surrender by revealing his holiness. God confronts Moses through the burning bush and calls him to free the Israelites from their captivity in Egypt. Moses feels inadequate to the task, but ultimately surrenders to God’s calling.
Gideon is visited by an angel of the Lord who calls Gideon to liberate the Israelites from the threats of the Midianite army. Gideon confesses his inadequacy before surrending to God’s sovereignty and calling upon his life (Judges 6:15).
When Peter sees Jesus perform a miracle, he is awakened to Jesus’ power and his own sinfulness saying, “Depart from me, for I am a sinful man, O Lord” (Luke 6:5) before ultimately following Jesus as one of his first disciples.
Surrender to God’s Will
We should respond to God's calling upon our lives with the same obedience and commitment as Isaiah. We should have a humble attitude, recognizing that we can do nothing apart from God's grace. We should also be willing to surrender our own plans and desires to the will of God, and be obedient to His commands, seeking to know Him more deeply, using our gifts and talents to serve Him and the body of Christ.
We should be willing to take risks for the cause of Christ, to go out of our comfort zone, and trust in God's faithfulness and provision. Ultimately, we should have faith that God's plans for us are for our good and His glory.
Just as God confronted the prophets of Israel with his glory, calling them to faithful service, Jesus revealed his authority to us as his disciples, calling us to faithful service.
“All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you.”
As followers of Jesus Christ, our only appropriate response is to follow in the footsteps of Isaiah, crying out “Here I am, send me.”
An Example of Surrendering to God’s Will
David Brainerd was an 18th-century American Presbyterian missionary and theologian who is best known for his work among the Native American tribes of New England.
Brainerd was born into a devout Christian family, but he had a difficult childhood. He struggled with feelings of inadequacy and a sense of not belonging. Despite his Christian upbringing, he was not particularly interested in becoming a minister, and he spent much of his youth pursuing worldly interests.
When he was in his twenties, Brainerd had a powerful spiritual experience that changed his life. He felt a strong sense of God's call to become a minister and a missionary. Initially, he resisted this call, feeling that he was not worthy or capable of such a task before ultimately surrendering to God’s will.
Brainerd became a Presbyterian minister, and soon after was sent as a missionary to the Native American tribes. Despite facing many challenges and setbacks, he persisted in his work, and he eventually gained the trust and respect of many of the tribes.
Brainerd's work was not easy. He faced many hardships and trials. He suffered from poor health, isolation, and opposition from both the tribes and the colonists. Nevertheless, he continued to spread the gospel, and many Native Americans were converted to Christianity through his efforts. He died at 29, and his journal was published posthumously, becoming a best-seller and inspiring many missionaries to overcome their fears and inadequacies in service to Christ.
In his journal Brainerd wrote, “Here am I, send me; send me to the ends of the earth; send me to the rough, the savage lost of the wilderness; send me from all that is called comfort on earth; send me even to death itself, if it be but in your service, and to promote your kingdom.”
A Prayer of Surrender
Heavenly Father,
I come before you, humbly surrendering my life to your will and your calling. I lend my voice to the cry of the angels, “Holy, holy, holy is the Lord God almighty. The whole earth is full of your glory.
I am awestruck by your glory and power. I am sinful and unworthy, but I trust in your grace and your mercy.
I open my heart and my mind to hear your voice. I ask for the courage to say "Here am I, send me" when you call me to your service.
I know that your work may be difficult and that I may face many challenges, but I trust in your strength and your guidance. I know that you will be with me always and that you will give me the wisdom and the power to accomplish your will.
I pray for a heart of obedience and a spirit of surrender. Help me to trust in you and to rely on your grace, even when I am afraid.
I give you my all, my mind, my body, my soul, my future, my all. I trust in you to lead me and guide me in the path that you have set for me.
I pray this in the name of Jesus Christ, my Lord and my Savior. Amen.
