Isaiah’s encounter with God in the temple was so intimate that he was able to overhear God having a conversation. God was wondering who he could send as a messenger, and Isaiah immediately put up his hand and offered his services. Isaiah’s response stands in marked contrast to others, such as Moses and Jeremiah, who offered God reasons why he had chosen the wrong person. Isaiah was willing, and God took him at his word.

Willingness is a wonderful quality. When gifts were given for the building of the temple in Jerusalem, the people were incredibly generous. They gave 170 tonnes of gold, 10,000 gold coins, 240 tonnes of silver, 612 tonnes of bronze and 3,400 tonnes of iron. We read that: “the family leaders, the leaders of the tribes of Israel, the generals and the captains of the army and the king’s administrative officers all gave willingly…The people rejoiced over the offerings, for they had given freely and wholeheartedly to the LORD, and King David was filled with joy” (1 Chronicles 29:6,9).

Isaiah was willing to serve God, but that doesn’t mean that life suddenly became easy for him. Far from it. He was given a desperately difficult task to perform. God assured him that people wouldn’t want to hear his message. They would “plug their ears and shut their eyes” (Isaiah 6:10). Even this discouraging information didn’t undermine Isaiah’s willingness. He simply enquired of God how long this would go on, to which God replied that it would carry on until the land had been turned into a wasteland and the people had been carried off into exile. It was a tough message, but Isaiah’s willingness was undiminished. Isaiah knew that the greatest thing he could ever do was to serve the living God.

Are you willing to do whatever God asks you to do?

Lord God, help me to always be willing to serve you in whatever way you choose. Amen