Isaiah

July 9, 2017 Background Scripture: Isaiah 6 Lesson Passage: Isaiah 6:1 – 8 Sometimes people get in our way. No, not the rude or disruptive type people but rather the type of people we look up to and admire. Our admiration and respect for our chosen role models will sometimes make it difficult for us to see anyone else. The prophet Isaiah could really give us a lesson in understanding this. Isaiah has the distinction of being the greatest of the writing prophets of Israel. It has been noted that his writing covers the same span of time as the Bible. The writing even includes the time beyond a new heaven and a new earth. Some have considered Isaiah’s writing as a miniature bible because of the numerous parallels that are found between the two. As with the other prophets of Israel, Isaiah’s calling was unique. In spite of the uniqueness, all of the prophetic callings shared many similarities. They experienced the calling through their physical senses. Some heard, saw, felt and even tasted something at the time of their calling. Isaiah shares with his readers what he heard and what he saw when he was called. Isaiah dated his calling by a significant historic event in his life. It was the year that King Uzziah died. Tradition states that King Uzziah was either Isaiah’s uncle or cousin. Uzziah had been enthroned as king of Judah at the age of sixteen and ruled for fifty two years. He had literally matured as a man on the throne of Judah. King Uzziah’s death was a tragedy for Isaiah in several ways. Not only did Judah lose its king of over half a century but there are many perks that go along with being part of a royal family. There is also much insecurity that arises at the death of a patriarch in the family who is also a good king. Into this sadness and confusion in Isaiah’s life, God stepped. God was not there to replace King Uzziah in Isaiah’s life but to elevate Isaiah to a level that exceeded many of the prophets of Israel. The first sight in Isaiah’s vision during his calling was the Lord enthroned above the temple. This was significant in that it should have reassured Isaiah that although human kings come and go, the Lord does not abdicate his throne and he continues to rule throughout history. The Lord was not in the temple but was high above it. Although Israel had become a monarchy at their request to be like other people, the Lord continued to rule over the monarchy with his theocracy. Put another way, Israel desired a manmade government but God only allowed that because man’s government is overruled by God’s government. Isaiah also observed the heavenly court praising the Lord continuously for his holiness. Isaiah trembled as the temple began to quake and fill with smoke. All of this caused Isaiah to reflect on his own unworthiness to be in the Lord’s presence. When Isaiah confessed his shortcoming, one of the heavenly beings came and purged it. The seraphim assured Isaiah that his iniquity had been forgiven. At this point, Isaiah heard the Lord ask for a volunteer to go as his messenger. Isaiah answered the call and Judah now had the greatest of its writing prophets called and commissioned by the Lord. Robert C. Hudson May 26, 2017

Moses

July 2, 2017 Background Scripture: Exodus 3 Lesson Passage: Exodus 3:1 – 12 This month’s focus of our Sunday School lessons is the calling of some of Israel’s greatest prophets. Christians tend to regard Moses primarily as the Law giver, i.e., the recipient and deliverer of God’s Law to Israel. However, Moses is held in high regard by the Jews as a prophet of God. One of Moses’ prophecies concerning the Messiah was that he would be a prophet like himself. Note that Moses did not refer to the Messiah as another Law giver but as a prophet. Those parts of Moses’ life that are recorded in the Bible should be of special interest to anyone called of God for service. Moses’ life is presented in the scriptures as three groups of forty years each. The first forty years were spent in Pharaoh’s household being raised by his Jewish birth mother as a son of Pharaoh’s daughter. The second forty years were spent as a fugitive from Egypt with the latter part spent living in the wilderness and tending to his father-in-law’s flock. Moses’ calling by God begins the last forty years of his life. The incidents during the last forty years of Moses’ life give clarity to the first eighty years of his life. First, note that Moses was called and commissioned by God at the age of eighty. At this point in his life, it seems as though he was in a good place in life. The troubles of Egypt were forty years behind him. He had married the daughter of a priest and they had two sons. He was working as a shepherd taking care of his father-in-law’s flock. This seems like a comfortable life for an eighty year old man. Rather than live out his life in ease, this was the perfect time in his life to be used by God. His last days in Egypt taught him that he could not have his way just because he was seen as the grandson of Pharaoh. Every great society has laws to govern its citizens and no one is allowed to live above those laws. Although Moses’ heart went out to the Hebrew slaves forty years earlier, he could not of his own wisdom and power overcome the Egyptian society and correct the injustice he witnessed. Furthermore, the previous forty years had taught him a very important lesson in humility. Rather than being seen as a ruler because of his family connections, he had relegated himself to the lowly role of being the caretaker of someone else’s flock. As stated previously, Moses was at the perfect time in his life to be used by God. He now understood that he alone could not overcome an unjust society. Furthermore, Moses now understood the virtue of being a caretaker of another’s possession. To add to his qualifications, he knew how to do this out in the wilderness. At this point in Moses’ life, God called and commissioned him for the work. Moses was called to return and confront the leadership of Egypt concerning the plight of the Hebrew slaves. This time he would do so as an ambassador from God with the full power of heaven to back him up. He would also be required to take care of God’s flock of approximately two million people in the wilderness where he had learned the trade of being a shepherd. Just as he had learned to shepherd his father-in-law’s flock in the wilderness for forty years, he would now shepherd God’s flock in the same wilderness for forty years. Eighty years of age seems like a great time to begin retirement. But in Moses’ case, it was the perfect time to begin his calling as one of Israel’s greatest prophets. Robert C. Hudson May 26, 2017