Our Old Testament Reading today is the awesome vision the prophet, Isaiah had of God sitting upon His throne in Heaven. Isaiah saw the Lord in His holiness and glory. But that made Isaiah realize his own weakness and wickedness. Then, through the cleansing of the Lord, Isaiah was made ready to accept the call to go tell the people of Israel the message of God.

We also are cleansed by the sacrifice of Christ Jesus, granted forgiveness of our sins and then washed clean in the waters of baptism, before we are called to go and tell others the Good News of the gospel. You have to have experienced His saving grace before you can tell others about it, with any sincerity.

God’s timing is perfect; Isaiah experienced this vision, when he needed it the most. King Uzziah (Azariah) had just died, he had reigned for 52 years, he had been a good king – early in his reign, he sought the Lord and therefore his reign prospered. Then in his pride, he made a mistake and broke one of God’s rules – God punished him by inflicting him with leprosy, he continued to reign another 12 years as a leper. Isaiah took to heart the lesson that his King had been taught. Upon viewing the glorious holiness of God, Isaiah cried out because of his uncleanness. This matches the plight of the leper as taught in scripture.

The point is that Isaiah was at a time of great crisis in his life. God often chooses the times of our greatest trials in life to reveal Himself to us. He did this personally with Isaiah and he did this for Israel as a nation – time and time again, performing miracles that saved them from their enemies. He has done this not just in the Bible, if you take a look at the recent history of the modern Israel’s wars, you find miracles – too many to count in fact. Time and time again Israel has survived against all the odds.

I also can attest to this in my personal life – in the time of greatest crisis, you are not alone – he will send an angel or one of his children. God is faithful; we do not walk through the storm alone.