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Sabbath School Lessons on Missionaries in the Bible

• Lesson 1
• Lesson 2
• Lesson 3
• Lesson 4
• Lesson 5
• Lesson 6
• Lesson 7
• Lesson 8
• Lesson 9
• Lesson 10
• Lesson 11
• Lesson 12
• Lesson 13

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About the Author

Bruce N. Cameron, J.D. is the author of these Sabbath School lesson study outlines. He is the Reed Larson Professor of Labor Law at Regent University School of Law. Professor Cameron has devoted his life to promoting the Gospel and defending believers. In addition to teaching at an overtly Christian law school, he continues his 34 year practice of law which is limited to the litigation of constitutional rights and religious freedom cases for employees. He holds an undergraduate degree from Andrews University and a Doctor of Law from Emory University School of Law.

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Lesson 13: "Here Am I! Send Me:" The Prophet Isaiah ^*

Introduction: Do you like change? Most people fear change because it brings uncertainty. Right now I'm adding change to my unchanged life. I've lived in the same house for over 25 years, but have rented a house in a new city and am slowly moving there. I've had the same employer for over 32 years, but now I spend half my time teaching in law school. For 28 years I have been a member of the same local church, but I'm slowly moving to the new church in the new city. I've been married to the same wife for 34 years and my goal is to make no changes there! Change creates anxiety. Being a missionary may require some change in your life. This week our lesson starts out with changing leadership, let's dive into our study of Isaiah!

1. King Uzziah Dies



1. Read Isaiah 6:1-3. Uzziah had been king for more than 50 years. How do you think it made the people feel to have him die?



1. Since Uzziah was generally a good king, how would you guess Isaiah felt about it?



2. Why do you think God showed Isaiah this vision at the time when King Uzziah died? (We want someone in charge who has our best interests in mind. We want rulers who like us. God shows Isaiah that although Uzziah may have died, God is still on His throne and is in charge.)



2. What does this vision show us about the nature of our God? (He wants to reassure His followers. He wants you to have confidence in Him.)



2. Woeful Man!



1. Read Isaiah 6:2 again. Let's notice these angels for a minute. By the way, this is the only time "seraphs" are mentioned in the Bible.



1. The word "seraph" means "to burn." How do you think these angels looked?



2. How do these seraphs use their wings? (Two to cover the face, two to cover the feet (or the lower part of the body) and two to fly.)



1. Why do you think these angels used their wings in such a way? (They are in the presence of God. They veiled their faces because of a holy God. They covered their feet as a suggestion of respect. The common was kept from God's view. They needed two to keep flying!)



2. Read Isaiah 6:3-4. If you are worried about "second-hand smoke," you need to stay away from the presence of God! Seriously, why is there such physical force connected with the message of these angels?



1. Why should the temple be filled with smoke? (Read Exodus 19:18. This tells us that the "smoke" that surrounds God is the result of God traveling in fire. This is called the "Shekinah cloud" and is often associated with God. See, e.g. 1 Kings 8:10 and Ezekiel 10:4.)



2. Why do you think that God and the angels appear to be burning? This sounds more like a picture of hell! (If you look at Numbers 31:21-24 we see that burning and water are God's means for purifying an item. Based on that, God's fiery appearance symbolizes the source of purity.)



1. Why, then, do we have a picture in Revelation 20:9-10 of the devil burning? (Absolute impurity meets absolute purity. The fire of God consumes the impurity of sin.)



3. Those of you that are more scientifically oriented can tell me - isn't smoke evidence of the conversion of energy from one form to another? If so, this may be some evidence of the energy that surrounds God. Energy, purity, power: that is our God! In times of change, God remains the power of the universe.



4. Are the words of the angels in Isaiah 6:3 less powerful than the delivery of the words in Isaiah 6:4? (The entire picture in Isaiah 6 conveys a sense of power. The dazzling angels (remember they looked like fire) cover their faces, they continually praise God, and you can feel the power of the presence of God and these angels. What they say is that God is holy and His influence fills the whole earth.)



1. Do you feel power in your church worship?



3. Read Isaiah 6:5. What is Isaiah's reaction to being in the presence of God?



1. How is this a reassurance in a time of change?



2. Why does Isaiah speak of his lips? If you find yourself in the presence of someone important, aren't you more concerned about whether your hair is combed and your clothes are clean and neat? (Isaiah, the prophet, has a message for God's people. His point is that he is unworthy to bring this message. His first need is to have his sins forgiven.)



4. Read Isaiah 6:6-7. What does the live coal represent? (Remember that Isaiah 6:1 and Isaiah 6:4 tell us that God, the seraphs and Isaiah are all in the temple in this vision. This coal is taken from the altar - the place of the atonement for sin. The coal is applied to the place in which Isaiah says he has the greatest need.)



1. Read Acts 2:3-4. Isaiah has a burning coal touched to his lips. The apostles have tongues of fire rest on them. What pattern do you see?



1. What lesson do you find? (The instrument used by the missionary is purified by the fire of God.)



2. What message do you see in Isaiah confessing his unworthiness and seeking cleansing for his words before he begins his mission? (If you want to be involved in mission you need to first confess your sins and seek God's blessings. You need to have the power and purity of God fall on you. How can you teach others to repent if you have not repented?)



3. The Volunteer



1. Read Isaiah 6:8. Why does God call for a volunteer when He is there with Isaiah? (This reinforces the idea that God does not force us to be His missionaries. He asks us to volunteer for His work.)



1. Who is the "us" in verse 8? (Notice that the seraphs say "Holy" three times. Both the reference to "us" and the repetition of the word "Holy" imply the Trinity.)



2. How many does volunteers does God call for? (He seems to be calling for one. "Whom" shall I send?)



4. The Message



1. Read Isaiah 6:9-10. Isaiah now has a new mission from God. What does God see is the major problem?



1. Is Isaiah the first one to mention the problem to the people? Is the issue that they have not heard God's message before? (The message is that they need to clean their ears, open their eyes and soften their hearts.)



2. We have a great concern to fulfill the "Gospel Commission" that the whole world hear the message of Jesus. What complication to our task do verses 9 and 10 suggest? (It is not simply hearing the word, it is understanding it. We have a mission field among those who "know" as well as for those who have not heard.)



2. Read Isaiah 6:11-12. How long for what?



1. Isaiah seems to be asking, "What will it take for the people to both hear and understand?"



1. What is the answer? (Calamity will cause them to pay attention to God. In the United States we are experiences bank failures. This is historic bad news.)



3. Read Isaiah 6:13. This verse contains both bad and good news. What is the bad news? (That even though 10% of the people survive at first, what remains will be attacked a second time. Things are going to get much worse.)



1. What is the good news? (That out of the "stumps" which are left, the "holy seed" will arise.)



4. Do you think we are facing change in the world? Serious problems? (Some bad things are happening in the world. The problems in the American financial system seem to be the worst of my lifetime. I read there are serious problems in other countries as well. Last week I heard an expert talk about how the President of Iran publically states that he is the modern day "John the Baptist" who will usher in the Mahdi, who is the redeemer of Islam. The Mahdi comes when there is great conflict in the middle east. Remember that Iran is making nuclear weapons and has said it wants to destroy Israel. Israel has a history of bombing the nuclear plants of problematic neighbors. This is a recipe for real trouble!)



5. What encouragement do you find from this lesson when bad things are happening in your life, when change is taking place? (Our whole lesson this week, from a fiery God, to the burning coal on the lips, to the destruction of those who will not pay attention, paints a picture. Our God is in charge and He will cleanse us from our sins. Heat, pressure, and fire burn away the impurities and bring forth the holy. God uses change to make us better people and help us to be His representatives to bring change to others.)



6. Friend, how about you? Are you willing to be purified so that you can be God's representative? Are you willing to respond to the call of God to share His word? Are you willing to embrace change and trouble to make you a better missionary?



5. Next week we start a new series of lessons on the "Atonement and the Cross of Christ."

^* Copr. 2008, Bruce N. Cameron, J.D. All scripture references are to the New International Version (NIV), copr. 1973, 1978, 1984 International Bible Society, unless otherwise noted. Quotations from the NIV are used by permission of Zondervan Bible Publishers. Suggested answers are found within parentheses. The lesson assumes the teacher uses a blackboard or some other visual aid.