COMMISSION TO CONDEMN
A parent admonishes his teenage child who erred and prescribes correction. To his surprise however, the teenager’s resolve to err deepens and instead of correction, is found corrosion. For one who has resolved to rebel, admonishment is futile.
Isaiah’s commission comes with a revelation of the holiness of God. Anyone who experiences God in close proximity has the same response as that of Isaiah- a recognition of unworthiness and a response of repentance. But the content of God’s message is strange. The response of his crowd though would be quite the opposite of Isaiah’s meekness. Imagine a prophet being told to go and preach to his nation and also being told that his preaching would have the opposite effect!
He (God) said, “Go and tell this people: “‘Be ever hearing, but never understanding; be ever seeing, but never perceiving.’ Make the heart of this people calloused; make their ears dull and close their eyes. Otherwise, they might see with their eyes, hear with their ears, understand with their hearts and turn and be healed.” (Isaiah 6:9,10)
Perhaps in God’s eyes, Israel had gone too far for restoration and judgment was imminent. A heart responsive to God is valued above all else. To hearken, to submit, to repent and return is the mantra for a Christian. The prophets who had come before had done their pleading and now all that was left was a plastering of condemnation. Isaiah does not question God; who can? He obeys and takes his message to the people. Judgment follows, but so does restoration in due time.
