BibleProject | One Story That Leads to JesusSample

How would a divine spokesperson be chosen and assigned work? In today’s reading, Isaiah receives a vision of Yahweh’s heavenly temple. He sees and hears choirs of six-winged angels. He witnesses glory that shakes the building to its bones and fills the room with smoke. He experiences a fiery commission to speak.

But Isaiah does not receive an encouraging send-off or any divine promise that suggests his mission will succeed. In fact, Yahweh tells Isaiah his mission is doomed to fail. Isaiah’s message will only entrench his audience deeper into rebellion!

The next story proves this point. Yahweh sends Isaiah to confront Judah’s king, Ahaz. He is facing the threat of Assyria’s northern invasion. Isaiah tells Ahaz not to worry: The northern kings are barking loud but won’t bite. Still, when the prophet invites Ahaz to ask God for a sign, Ahaz stubbornly refuses.

Yahweh provides a sign anyway. Because Ahaz rejected Yahweh, whose love gently sustains his people like a life-giving stream, the raging torrent of Assyria’s wrath will sweep Judah away. Yet Isaiah also points to the hope of new life emerging on the other side of this flood of divine judgment.

Watch the video to learn more about this message of judgment and hope in the book of Isaiah.

Reflection Questions

• Meditate on Isaiah’s prophecy about the vineyard, a metaphor for the people of Israel. How does this metaphor shape your understanding of Jesus’ parable about the treacherous tenant farmers in Matthew 21:33-44?
• According to the ritual purity laws in Leviticus, impurity is contagious. When the coal touches Isaiah’s unclean lips, it purifies Isaiah instead of catching his impurity. Here, God’s holiness seems to be more contagious than humans’ impurity. How does this help you understand Jesus’ healing miracles in the New Testament?