before ordained that we should walk in". Nor does the effect of the vision wear off: Paul

at the end of a fruitful life of service to God confessed himself the `chief of sinners'.

Indeed it is only as the vision remains effective that service can be effective. There came

the time when Uzziah trusted to his own strength, and "when he was strong, his heart was

lifted up to his destruction".

Isaiah's reaction was "I am unclean". He did not react by saying "I have done this, or

said that", but I am unclean. He was not concerned with either sins of omission or sins of

commission, but what he was in himself. What he might say or what he might do was the

result of what he was himself. It was not his acts which needed to be dealt with, but the

man himself. Not till he had a true estimate of himself was there hope for Isaiah.

"Then flew one of the seraphims."  Instantly upon true confession, upon the

acknowledgment of the truth of God's assessment of us, there is cleansing and

forgiveness, or the experience of blessing. Instantly, also, comes the enablement for the

task to which Isaiah is called. Not until then did God present Isaiah with the challenge,

"Whom shall I send, and who will go for us?" (6: 8). Instantly Isaiah replied "Here am I;

send me". Isaiah had, indeed, clearly seen the Lord. Now there was no room for false

modesty. Moses had demurred, perhaps with some justification, but God would enable

him: Moses persisted, and Aaron was appointed to work with him, an arrangement

which, on occasions was more of a hindrance than a help. When God calls He enables.

Verses 9 and 10 give us the commission with which Isaiah was entrusted:

Isaiah, like others, was commissioned to a ministry concerned with failure. This was

Jeremiah's experience; at the end of his ministry Paul had to say "all they which are in

Asia be turned away from me"; and from the human standpoint the Lord's own earthly

ministry was one of failure. God measures success by the rule of faithfulness, and that,

sometimes, in the face of suffering and persecution. At Paul's commissioning he was to

be told "how great things he must suffer for My Name's sake" (Acts 9: 16). Indeed this

would appear to be the lot of the people of God during the present dispensation, for Paul

tells Timothy:

Yet the ministry of failure and suffering, the ministry of faithfulness, is not fruitless.

The outcome may be long delayed, but the fulfillment of God's purpose is certain. Isaiah

enquired of the Lord "Lord, how long?", and the reply was given: