How Seeing God, Seeing Ourselves, And Saying “Send Me” Unlocks Purpose - [Isaiah 6:1-8]

When the familiar crumbles, where do we look for meaning? We start where Isaiah did—in a room shaking with glory, where God sits high and lifted up and the train of His robe fills the temple. That vision doesn’t distract us from real life; it reframes it. Thrones on earth rotate. The throne in heaven does not. From there, purpose begins to take shape in three movements that change everything.

We walk through Isaiah 6:1–8 with care and clarity. First, we learn to see God as He is—majestic, holy, and utterly set apart. The seraphim model the posture we need: more wings for humility than for action, worship that shakes the thresholds, and a confession that God’s holiness saturates His power, love, and wisdom. Then the lens turns inward. Isaiah’s “unclean lips” confession becomes an entry point for mercy, and a live coal touches the exact place of need. That is how God works with us—no shame, no avoidance, just precise grace that cleanses and prepares. We bring in lived examples: Moses shaped by wilderness before leading with courage, John Bunyan transformed from profanity to preaching, and Lottie Moon moving from skeptic to missionary by admitting she was wrong.

Finally, the voice of God asks a question that still echoes: “Whom shall I send, and who will go for us?” Calling rests on two pillars—God sends and we choose to go. Isaiah’s yes becomes a blueprint for ours. We look at the long arc of his influence, from messianic prophecies to New Testament resonance, and we share Lillian Trasher’s bold “three-brick rule” that built an orphanage through war and want. Purpose isn’t found by waiting for perfect conditions; it’s found by obeying the One who still sits on the throne, even when our personal Uzziahs fall.

If this journey stirred you, tap follow, share it with a friend who needs courage, and leave a review so more seekers can find their next step. Then take a quiet moment and ask: what needs to fall so your calling can rise?

Regularly join Dr. Novella Springette as she does in-depth Bible teaching with the intent of fostering Christian discipleship.

Transcript

Isaiah’s Crisis And God’s Throne

Uzziah’s Rise, Pride, And Fall

The Train That Fills The Temple

Seraphim, Holiness, And Holy Fire

Changed By Glory: Moses And Bunyan

Facing Ourselves And Being Cleansed

Repentance Stories: Ahab And Lottie Moon

Hearing The Call And Answering

Legacy Of Isaiah And Modern Faith

Lillian Trasher And Bold Obedience

Final Charge, Prayer, And Blessing

SPEAKER_00 0:03

Are you seeking for purpose and meaning in your life? You are not alone. A study from Nashville-based Lifeway Research finds that more than two in three Americans, 68%, say a major priority in their life is finding their deeper purpose. Almost three in four, 73% say it's important that they pursue a higher purpose and meaning for their life. At one point, the prophet Isaiah was also longing to know what life was all about. Isaiah found what he was looking for when he heard and responded to God's call. Isaiah then proceeded to prophesy for more than 40 years. He is regarded by Bible scholars as being the preeminent prophet of the Old Testament. If we too desire to be likewise transformed, this podcast is for us. Isaiah 6 1 to 8 tells the story of Isaiah's encounter with God. Today, verse by verse, we'll uncover three powerful truths straight from the text. One, we need to see God in his majesty, glory, and splendor. Two, we need to see ourselves as we truly are so that we can be made right by God. Three, we need to hear and respond to God's call. Today we will research and internalize these truths so that we too can be mightily used of God just as Isaiah was. Stick with me as we analyze this passage verse by verse. Are we at a place in our life where the familiar has disappeared? We are dealing with uncertainty and we are unsure as to what our next steps should be. This is exactly where Isaiah found himself in verse 1. Isaiah declares that this is the year that Uzziah died. This is more than a date, this is a life-changing instance. It is a premier experience of Isaiah's lifetime. We must be cognizant of the fact that Isaiah was only able to see God in his grandeur because the death of King Uzziah had opened his eyes. The Hebrew word that is used here for the Lord is Adonai. Adonai translates a sovereign God, Lord above all. Our first truth states that we too, like Isaiah did here, need to see the sovereign Lord in his majesty, glory, and honor. What in our lives need to die so that we may see the Lord? Is it our self-interest, our pride, our ambition? Who was this King Uzziah who had to die for Isaiah's vision of God to occur? Of all the kings of Israel, none did as much for the nation as King Uzziah, save only David. While Uzziah was king, God helped him defeat the Philistines, the Arabs, and the Mayonites. Even the Ammonites paid taxes to Uzziah. Uzziah had more than 307,000 trained soldiers. These powerful troops protected the king against any enemy. Some of his skilled workers invented machines that could shoot arrows and sling large stones. God helped Uzziah become more and more powerful and he was famous all over the world. People who lived as far away as Egypt heard about him. However, Uzziah became proud of his power and this led to his downfall. One day, Uzziah disobeyed the Lord his God by going into the temple and burning incense as an offering to God. This service was reserved only for the priests who had been consecrated to God. God then struck Uzziah with leprosy right there in the temple while he was attempting to do this. Uzziah had leprosy the rest of his life and died not long after this incident. Take a moment to reflect what might be one area of pride in our life that we need to relinquish. Isaiah was discouraged and at a loss by the death of Isaiah. Isaiah was probably asking, What am I to do now? Uzziah is dead. Where do I go from here? Isaiah then documents that in the absence of the powerful King Isaiah, as he was now dead, Isaiah saw the Lord high and lifted up and seated on a throne. The throne was exalted and majestic. When we look at how human kings, emperors, and rulers are presented, they are always elevated above everyone else and seated on thrones. The throne that Isaiah saw set its occupant, the sovereign God, in a superior position. This throne was a symbol of the truth that there is a throne in heaven, and the Lord God sits upon it as a sovereign ruler of the universe. Isaiah may have been discouraged or depressed because Uzziah was no longer on the throne of Israel. But God was stating to Isaiah that there is no need to fear because God is still on his throne. What situation may we be facing today that seems insurmountable? And we need to be reminded that God is still on his throne and well able to meet our needs. The great and majestic God was not only seated on the throne, but the train of his robe filled the temple. Kings of that time would wear robes with long trains because they were difficult to maneuver and work in. Wearing a long train meant that I am so important that I can wear whatever I want, and someone else has to ensure that I can move around. This tradition still exists today, as when we see a bride wearing a wedding dress with a long train. That is why the maid of honor has to wait on the bride's train while the bride just moves around. The train of the Lord's robe was so magnificent that it filled the entire temple. This was no ordinary room. This was a temple. Think of the largest cathedral that you have ever seen. And imagine that from the top of that cathedral, the entire place is filled with the train that is flowing down from the throne of God. God was being presented in full splendor for Isaiah to see that Uzziah's magnificence was nothing when compared to that of God on his throne. Like Isaiah, who or what have we been looking up to more than God lately? Someone? An achievement. The throne that God was sitting on was surrounded by phenomenal creatures. Verse 2 tells us that seraphim were flying around the throne. The Hebrew word that is translated as seraphim here in Isaiah 6 2 and Isaiah 6.6 means burning one. This word only occurs seven times in the 66 books of the Old Testament, and two of the incidents occur right here in chapter 6 of Isaiah. Literally, these angels want fire for God. In all other biblical passages, these angels are known as cherubim. This is the only chapter in the Bible where these creatures are referred to as seraphim. These seraphim had six wings. These angels used the six wings as follows two to cover the face, two to hide the humble area of their body, and two to fly with. The Lord said to Moses, You cannot see my face, for no man shall see me and live. The same holds true for the Seraphim. So they covered their faces in the presence of God. The Seraphim used four of their wings to express their humility, and used two of their wings to express their willingness and ability to serve God. This is the proper balance. Are we serving God with the level of humility that is being displayed here by the Seraphim? These seraphim were not focused on themselves, they were given completely to venerating the one true God. Verse 3 tells us that these creatures were calling to one another and exclaiming that God is holy. The seraphim were not even directly addressed in the Lord God here. In the presence of the Lord, the seraphim were proclaiming his glorious nature and character to each other. The word holy is repeated three times because there are three persons in the one God. Additionally, in the Hebrew language, intensity is communicated by repetition. To say the Lord is holy says something. To say the Lord is holy, holy says far more. To say holy, holy, holy is the Lord, is to declare his holiness to the highest possible degree. Holiness is not an aspect of God's personality. Holiness is one of the characteristics of his entire being. God's holiness is a part of everything he is and does. God's power is a holy power. God's love is a holy love. God's wisdom is a holy wisdom. Such is the zeal that the seraphim were given to the worship of God, that in verse 4, Isaiah details that the trest holes of the temple were shaken from the passion and the intensity of the worship that the seraphim were offering to God. Are we serving God with the level of fervor and enthusiasm that these seraphims are displaying here? Additionally, the entire temple was filled with smoke. This smoke reminds us of the pillar of cloud that represented the presence of God as the Israelites left Egypt and traveled to the Promised Land. Our bodies are now the temple of God where the Holy Spirit dwells. Are we filled with the presence of the Lord as the temple here was? Catching sight of God transforms us. Initially, when God called Moses at the age of forty, he was a prince of Egypt and did not understand what it meant to fulfill God's call. Moses killed an Egyptian soldier and had to flee for his life. After forty years of tending sheep in the wilderness, Moses came to the point where God could use him to set his people free from the hand of Pharaoh. Moses saw the invisible God and was changed. God spoke with him face to face from the burning bush. Moses continued in the light of the vision and was able to lead God's people out of bondage and over to the promised land. Have we seen the Lord high and lifted up and experienced change? Church history teaches us that immense change can take place in the lives of those who have truly seen the Lord high and lifted up. John Bunyan, the author of Pilgrim's Progress, was not highly educated. He served in the army for a short period of time and then went to work with his father as a tinker, a repair of pots and pants. As a young man, he was so coarse and ungodly that one day when he was cursing, another similarly irreligious young woman told John Bunyan that he was undoubtedly the most profane person that she had ever come across. Bunyan came to know Jesus as Lord and Savior and started preaching to thousands. John Owen was an academic administrator at the University of Oxford. He was regarded as one of the most highly educated and brilliant minds of his day. He is considered to be one of the world's greatest reformed theologians. John Owen would go to listen to Bunyan preach. King Charles II asked John Owen, why would he go to hear an uneducated man who used to fix pots and pans preach? John Owen replied that he would gladly give up all his learning for Bunyan's ability to preach. Bunyan saw Jesus and was transformed from an ungodly person to a passionate inspired preacher. Is Christ on the inside of us making a change as he did for John Bunyan? We've witnessed Isaiah's awe-inspiring vision of God's majesty and glory. What happens when that divine encounter turns the spotlight inward? We'll now explore how seeing God forces us to confront our own flaws and unworthiness so He can cleanse and prepare us for greater purpose. Have we taken stock recently of ourselves and who we really are in Christ? Our second truth states that we need to see ourselves as we truly are so that we can be made right with God. In verse 5, Isaiah laments that he is a man of unclean lifts. Isaiah was a man who up until then would have emphatically stated that he was someone who was truly serving God. However, when Isaiah saw God as he truly is, the Lord God Almighty, the King of Kings, the Creator of heaven and earth, he then realized the level of his insignificance. Fortunately, this is not the end of the story. Verse 6 tells us that as soon as Isaiah confessed his inadequacy, one of the seraphim flew to him with a live coal in his hand, which he had taken with tongues from the altar. As the stone was in the fire on the altar, it was so hot that the seraphim could not handle it without the tongues. The altar that the stone was taken from could have been the altar of sacrifice or incense. It did not matter. Either of the two altars was capable of redeeming man. The live coal that is being referred to here was really a stone that was used for cooking or baking. This risper stone was used to bake cakes and cook meat in those days. The stone would be heated in the fire and then removed. The wet door flesh would be placed on the stone to be cooked or baked. The door flesh would be turned over as needed on the stone to complete the cooking baking process. If the stone cooled, fresh stones would be taken from the fire to be used until the process was completed. The imagery here is that the prophet is being laid on the hot stone to be cooked, made ready to be used of God, just as the door flesh should be cooked or baked on the hot stone and then eaten. When God allows man to see their utter despair, it is not to put mankind down, but to redeem them. Isaiah had seen himself as he was, and now God was prepared to clean him up. The stone was laid where the problem was. The seraphim did not walk around the issue. He went directly to the heart of the sin and dealt with it. The stone was laid on the mouth, which Isaiah had seen was unclean. Immediately, as soon as Isaiah confessed that he was not who he needed to be, God Made him right. Let's tell God that we need to be cleansed today and receive his forgiveness. The Old Testament lets us know that God is willing and ready to forgive anyone who is willing to repent of his or her unrighteousness. We are told the story of Ahab, who was so immoral that the prophet Elijah came with the word of God to Ahab that he and his entire family would be destroyed. The Bible states that Ahab was the most evil of all the wicked kings. There was no king of Israel as ungodly as Ahab, either before or after him. However, when Ahab heard from Elijah that God was going to punish him for being so corrupt, he immediately humbled himself before God. He tore his clothes, put on sackcloth, fasted, and went around meekly. God then told Elijah that since Ahab had humbled himself in the presence of God, he would not bring disaster on him. Like Ahab. Let's acknowledge our sinfulness in the presence of the merciful God so that we too can be forgiven. Church history shows us what can happen when we acknowledge that we need the Lord to make us right. Lotti Moon grew up in a Christian home but did not believe in religion initially. Shortly after her 18th birthday, she decided to attend a series of evangelistic meetings that would be in hell so that she could gather more ammunition to torment her Christian friends. Lottie took a seat near the front so that she could listen intently and then be able to pick holes in the sermon afterwards. To her surprise, she could not find fault with anything that was said. That night, Lottie could not sleep as the reverence words kept running through her head. As she pondered his words, she realized that she had been turned off from religion due to denominational arguments that she had overheard as a child. Lottie then determined that just because some people argued about Christianity was not a good reason not to become a Christian. By the following morning, December 21, 1858, Lottie had made up her mind that she wanted to become a Christian. That evening, when the invitation was given to become a Christian, Lottie marched to the front and publicly confessed Jesus as Lord and Savior. Lottie asked to be baptized as soon as possible and was baptized the following evening. Lottie Moon became one of the most influential missionaries of all time because she was willing to confess that her stance was incorrect. She spent more than 40 years as a missionary in China. To this day, the Southern Baptist will collect an annual Lotti Moon Christmas offering, which is to be used for missions. Last year, 2025, the goal was to collect$210 million, 100% of which would be used to support missions. Today are we willing to ask God to make us right in his sight so that he can use us for his glory. Now that we've seen how confessing our inadequacies leads to God's cleansing and redemption, like it did for Isaiah, Ahab, and Lotti Moon, we're ready for the call to action. As we examine the final truth, we'll discover how hearing and responding to God's invitation can unlock true purpose in our lives, just as it propelled Isaiah into his prophetic destiny. Are we ready to take the necessary steps to truly find purpose and meaning in our lives? The initial steps that we have discussed is that first we must see God in his exalted majesty. Secondly, we must become aware of our own woefulness so that God can cleanse us. When these have been accomplished in our lives, this brings us to our next truth, which is that we'll then be able to hear the call of God and respond to his call. Verse 8 tells us that Isaiah heard the voice of the Lord saying, Whom shall I send and who will go for us? The call of God here comes in two parts. One, whom shall I send? This means that the missionary, the Christian worker, the witness of Jesus Christ is sent by God. This is a divine commission. Two, who will go for us? This means that the missionary, the Christian worker, the witness of Jesus Christ has decided to go. Here we see the divine sent and the human will go working together to achieve God's will. God is asking because God wants to reach the world and He wants to reach it through willing people. God is looking for volunteers in every place and phase of life to serve Him. God is always calling. However, only those who have seen God and have been cleansed by God from all unrighteousness can hear God's call. God is calling us right now. Can we hear his call? Isaiah heard God calling. He had seen God in all of his glorious majesty. He had been made aware of his own sinfulness and that of those around him. Isaiah had been cleansed by God's redeeming fire. Isaiah then replied immediately, He am I, send me. Isaiah was not going on his own recognition. He said, Send me, which meant that he was submitted to God. Today God is also calling us. Like Isaiah, let's all respond to that call with, Here am I, send me. God used Isaiah mightily, subsequent to Isaiah, hearing and responding to God's call. Isaiah went on to be the preeminent prophet of the Old Testament. Isaiah lived almost 800 years before Jesus came, but he is quoted more than 400 times in the New Testament. He is known as the Messianic prophet because so many of his prophecies were about Jesus. It is Isaiah that we quote every Christmas. For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders, and he will be called wonderful counselor, mighty God, everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. The Holy Spirit is only mentioned by two people in the Old Testament. One was David, and the other was Isaiah. Like Isaiah, are we willing to abandon whatever blocks our view of God, be cleansed by God, and then hear and respond to God's call so that we too can be mightily used of God. Christian history shows us that God is still calling people to perform great exploits in his name. One week before she was to be married, Lillian Trasher heard God calling her to be a missionary. It did not seem to make any sense, but Lillian determined to answer God's call. Lillian traveled to Egypt and was instrumental there in working with many children in need. In September 1941, Lillian had 900 children in the orphanage. She had no money and nothing to feed them with and nothing to make clothes with for them, as the nations had dried up due to the ongoing worldwide war. It seemed hopeless. Lillian asked all the children to pray. The children prayed until 2 30 a.m. that night. The next day she received a telegram from the American ambassador asking her to come to Cairo. There, the ambassador told her that a Red Cross ship was on its way to Greece and had to turn back. A Scottish sailor on board persuaded the captain to leave everything in Egypt for the orphanage rather than dump the supplies overboard. This cargo included 2,600 dresses, 1,900 pairs of boy pants, 3,800 blankets, 1,100 towels, 1200 sacks of rice, and many more items. Lillian did not even have the money to have the items delivered to the orphanage. However, the ambassador undertook the course of having the supplies taken to the orphanage. In 1945, when the war ended, many of the children were still wearing clothes from the shipment. On her final visit to the USA, Lillian traveled by plane and had only one small suitcase that was only half full. As she spoke at a convention, Lillian encouraged all those in attendance to make a start on what God had called them to do and not to wait for everything to fall into place. She assured the listeners that once they were sure it is God's will, they should get moving. Lillian told them about a three-brick rule. At the orphanage, they would start a new building as soon as they had three bricks to put on top of each other. What is God calling us to do that we need to get to work on right away? We started by asking, what purpose and meaning was there to our lives? Isaiah 6, 1 to 8 shows us what life is all about. This passage reveals three truths that must be fulfilled in our lives if we are to find purpose and meaning. One, we need to see God in His majesty, glory, and splendor. Two, we need to see ourselves as we truly are so that we can be made right by God. Three, we need to hear and respond to God's call. God is calling us to be on mission with Him so that the world can come to know who Jesus is. God is looking for volunteers in every area of life that He can use mightily. Let's all commit to setting aside anything in our lives that may be blocking our vision of God. Ask God to cleanse us of all unrighteousness and hear and respond to God's call. Being on mission with God is our life's purpose and meaning. Before you go, if this message spoke to you, like this podcast and subscribe so you don't miss what God is doing here at Catch on Fire Podcast. If you're ready for real change, take a moment right now to pray with me. Jesus, I give you my life. Lead me, forgive me, and make me new. If you pray that, welcome to the family. Follow along, stay connected, and let's walk this walk together. Please join me as we confess words of life over all of our lives. We declare and decree in the name of Jesus that we are still holding on to God's unchanging hand. We are still in God's holy plan. We declare and decree in the name of Jesus that we are living holy lives as God requires. We declare and decree in the name of Jesus that we are feeding the hungry, giving drink to the thirsty, welcoming the stranger, giving clothes to those in need, ministering to the sick and visiting those in prison, and we are doing so to the least of those among us, as when we do so we are ministering to Jesus. We declare and decree in the name of Jesus that we have received healing, as by his stripes we are healed. From the crown of our head to the soles of our feet, all of our bodily organs are working correctly. We declare and decree in the name of Jesus that God is ordering our steps, that all weapons that are formed against us have been utterly and completely destroyed, and every tongue that is rising against us in judgment is condemned. We declare and decree in the name of Jesus that all generational curses are cancelled. Anything that runs in our ancestral bloodline that is not of God has no power over us, our children and our grandchildren, and is eliminated forever right now. We declare and decree in the name of Jesus that angels are watching over and keeping our family, our children, our grandchildren, our loved ones safe. We declare and decree in the name of Jesus that every negative word that has been and is being spoken over our lives and that of our family, children, grandchildren, and loved ones is cancelled and sent back to the pit from whence it came. We declare and decree in the name of Jesus that we are the head and not the tail. We declare and decree in the name of Jesus that we are not and will never be ashamed. Our enemies have not and never will triumph over us. We declare and decree in the name of Jesus that anything that is not of God that has been dispatched to hinder our blessings, our progress, and our well-being is immediately destroyed. We declare and decree in the name of Jesus that we are financially in line with God's word, and as such we are lenders and not borrowers. As a result, all of our debts have been paid and are forgiven. We declare and decree in the name of Jesus that the enemy of our souls has no authority over our finances and our funds, and that we are good stewards of the money that God has placed in our keeping. We declare and decree in the name of Jesus in the area of business and our carriers, that just as Isaac reaped a hundredfold, the blessings of Abraham are falling on us, and we are reaping a hundredfold from whatever we put our hands to. We declare and decree in the name of Jesus that we are living under an open heaven in every area of our lives. Blessings are falling on us, our family and our loved ones. These blessings are being manifested in our lives, in the spiritual and in the physical. Let's repeat the 23rd Psalm together. The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not want. He maketh me to lie down in green pastures. He leadeth me beside the still waters. He restored my soul. He leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for his name's sake. Yea though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for thou art with me. Thy rod and thy staff, they comfort me. Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies. Thou anointest my head with oil, my cup runneth over. Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life, and I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever. The Lord bless you and keep you. The Lord make his face shine on you and be gracious to you. The Lord turn his face toward you and give you peace. Amen.