(Wait, WHAT?!?!)

"Then I said, 'How long, O LORD?' And he said: 'Until cities lie waste without inhabitant, and houses without people, and the land is utterly desolate; until the LORD sends everyone far away, and vast is the emptiness in the midst of the land..."

(Isaiah 6:11-12)

Isaiah's 'call story' is quite dramatic. He has a heavenly vision - he sees God's throne... and God is so huge, his hem alone fills the entire temple in Jerusalem. Seraphim (angelic beings) with six wings are hovering around him, singing songs of praise. Earthquakes and smoke round out the special effects... and Isaiah answers God's call to a life of service ("Here am I; send me!"). It's quite memorable. I can even hear a moving soundtrack playing in the background to highlight the moment (and giving listeners chicken skin!).

And then Isaiah gets his marching orders: His role is to tell the people NOT to pay attention to God's words. (Wait, WHAT?!?!?) So their minds, eyes, and ears will be closed to the life-changing message of God.

Isaiah's response: "How long, O LORD?" How long will this be my task, my purpose, my reason for 'ministry'? Like 6-8 weeks? Maybe half a year? Or a couple of years? A decade?!? HOW LONG?!?!?

God's response much have been shocking. "Until houses and cities are desolate... and everyone is taken away."

So... a long time?!?

Looking back, we now know that was referring to the Babylonian exile. The single most disruptive and life-changing event for the Jewish people, after the Exodus. But beyond the specific target of this instruction, Isaiah had to come to grips with the reality that he's not going to be winning any "People's Choice Awards" for Prophet of the Year. His task isn't anything one would actually desire. And yet, it was part of God's bigger plan to help bring Israel back to faithfulness (once they hit the ultimate rock bottom). It will take a LONG time. But eventually, it will help them draw closer to God.

We don't always get to choose the tasks that God gives us - or know how it fits into God's bigger plans. Sometimes, as a pastor, it may even be discouraging of it seems like people around you aren't "getting it." Then again, sometimes I don't even "get it," when it comes to living the way I know I should be. But we can trust that God is working to bring us back to Him - even if the road seems very unlikely.