Isaiah 6 (NIV)

You know how a lot of books and tv series have an episode or a chapter that goes back in time, back before the current situation, to provide context and history, to help us understand why a character is the way she is or why something happened the way it did? Today’s passage is kind of like that. It’s situated right in the center of the first section of Isaiah, and it’s a behind-the-scenes, backstory kind of moment. In one sense, it’s the answer to why Isaiah is saying all of these hard things. But in another sense, this passage follows a theme throughout Scripture of God calling a representative for his people—someone who will not only call them back to God, but one who could partner with him in their stead.

As you listen to the passage, really try to picture the scene, the vision of God’s space, however you imagine it. Take note of the things your imagination includes in the background, the way you picture the heavenly beings, the things you see, hear, smell and feel.

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1. What details stood out to you as you listened and pictured the scene in your head?

2. One way to view this passage is that the whole of Isaiah’s message here gets turned around and zoomed in on the prophet himself—his realization of his own sin before a Holy God, his need for purification, and God’s message of hope for him in the form of a calling, a mission. In what way has the Lord been challenging you personally as you’ve listened so far to Isaiah’s words? Not just your community or nation, but to you within that community and nation.

3. To our modern ears, it sounds like God is telling Isaiah here to make the people’s hearts hard, to tell them not to perceive or understand, and we feel justifiably confused. Isn’t this counter to the call for people to listen to God? Instead, the response of the people—the hard hearts, the dull ears, the unwillingness to repent—will itself be evidence of their need for judgment. In what ways have your recent responses to the LORD revealed the reality of your heart?

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Bible Project: Isaiah 1-39 >>

BP Exploring My Strange Bible Podcast: The Meaning of Hope >>

InterVarsity Press Selections: Isaiah >>

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