"At War with the Real God--A Leadership in Crisis"

At War with the Real God

A Leadership in Crisis

 

Larry Evans

There is a saying that "all politics is local." The phrase was coined by U.S. Speaker of the House Tip O'Neil.  The idea was that a politician's success is directly related to his ability to understand and influence the issues of his constituents. When it comes to understanding the call of Isaiah, however, it becomes clear that his power of influence begins by first understanding who God is and why He has called Isaiah to ministry. Our class study will explore Isaiah's calling found in Isaiah 6. Here are some questions we will pursue:

 

Reflective Questions

 

1.     True or False? Spiritual leadership is the ability of a leader to get individuals to accomplish what he or she believes is important. 

2.    True or False? God’s blessings can become a curse.

3.    True or False? Experiencing the holiness of God can be a fearful experience?

4.    True or False? Isaiah cried out “Woe is me”, because he was burned when touched by the coal from the altar.

5.    True or False? Seeing God in His sanctuary is reassuring.

6.    True or False? God hardens hearts.

 

Introduction

 

Throughout much of the Bible we discover that the war that was once in heaven (Rev. 12:7-9; Isa. 12:12-14) has found a new home here on earth. We sometimes think of the problem as lukewarmness, apostasy, rebellion, or even false theological teachings. Doing so may be a convenient way of describing the problem, but it is easy to forget what is at stake and the scope of the battle. We must not minimize the problem. Note the following:

The world is a theater; the actors, its inhabitants, are preparing to act their part in the last great drama. With the great masses of mankind, there is no unity, except as men confederate to accomplish their selfish purposes. God is looking on. His purposes in regard to His rebellious subjects will be fulfilled. The world has not been given into the hands of men, though God is permitting the elements of confusion and disorder to bear sway for a season. A power from beneath is working to bring about the last great scenes in the drama, —Satan coming as Christ, and working with all deceivableness of unrighteousness in those who are binding themselves together in secret societies. Those who are yielding to the passion for confederation are working out the plans of the enemy. The cause will be followed by the effect. —Testimonies for the Church 8:27, 28.

It has been estimated that there are over 850 different definitions of leadership. Perhaps one of the best definitions for spiritual leadership is one suggested by Henry Blackaby, “Spiritual leadership is moving people on to God’s agenda.” (Spiritual Leadership, p.20). When God calls a prophet or a prophetic movement into being, He isn’t doing so for them to become popular, relevant to the times as they see it, or to cast their own vision. They are being called during a time of intense conflict and God must be the strategic planner. Of course, this does not deny the importance of creative approaches, but it must always be with the purpose of “moving people on to God’s agenda.” Such was the case when God called Isaiah— “Whom shall I send? And who will go for us?” (Isa. 6:8)

 

1.     True or False? Spiritual leadership is the ability of a leader to get individuals to accomplish what the he or she believes is important. 

 

At War with God

 

Isaiah 6 begins with two very critical points in verse one: (1) King Uzziah died, and (2) Isaiah saw the Lord. In one single verse, the essential theme for Isaiah’s calling and for the entire book is characterized.

 

For 52 years Uzziah was a leader. He started well, but he did not end well as a leader for God. In short, the blessings of God in his life led to his own self-absorption another word for pride. He moved from God’s agenda to his own. He was oblivious to his departure. Call it what you like, but he was at war with the principles of God’s kingdom. He wanted to use religion, the things of God, for his own purposes. 

But after Uzziah became powerful, his pride led to his downfall. He was unfaithful to the LORD his God, and entered the temple of the LORD to burn incense on the altar of incense. Azariah the priest with eighty other courageous priests of the LORD followed him in. They confronted King Uzziah and said, “It is not right for you, Uzziah, to burn incense to the LORD. That is for the priests, the descendants of Aaron, who have been consecrated to burn incense. Leave the sanctuary, for you have been unfaithful; and you will not be honored by the LORD God.” 

2.    True or False? God’s blessings can become a curse.

 

In contrast to King Uzziah, Isaiah “saw the Lord, high and exalted, seated on a throne.” The description doesn’t stop there. Isaiah hears angels singing, “Holy, holy, holy is the Lord almighty.” What happened to Isaiah? Isaiah sees himself and his people in a clearer way, 

“Woe to me!” I cried. “I am ruined! For I am a man of unclean lips, and I live among a people of unclean lips, and my eyes have seen the King, the LORD Almighty.”

3.    True or False? Isaiah cried out “Woe is me, because he was burned when touched by the coal from the altar.

Then one of the seraphim flew to me with a live coal in his hand, which he had taken with tongs from the altar. With it he touched my mouth and said, “See, this has touched your lips; your guilt is taken away and your sin atoned for. (Isa.6:5-7). 

What Isaiah saw, what he experienced, is reminiscent of what the high priest witnessed on the Day of Atonement in the Most Holy Place of the sanctuary.  No wonder, Isaiah cried out, “Woe is me!” The New Living Translation phrased it, “It’s all over! I am doomed for I am a sinful man.” There was no pride, no arrogance in this confession. In the presence of God, Isaiah saw himself as he was.

 

4.    True or False? Experiencing the holiness of God can be a fearful experience?

 

What a contrast! Uzziah went to the temple to offer an incense he had no right to offer, whereas Isaiah became the incense and through him others will be blessed. One important principle that is found here and throughout the Bible is this:  The greater the revelation, the greater the transformation!  As Isaiah saw more of God, the more his life was changed from the inside out. 

This contrast between King Uzziah and Isaiah reminds us of the problem God was having with the leadership described in Isaiah 5: 17,

The arrogance of man will be brought low

and human pride humbled;

the LORD alone will be exalted in that day,

and the idols will totally disappear.

How did they get to such a deceptive condition?  We find it described in Isa. 2:7-8,

Their land is full of silver and gold [values];

there is no end to their treasures.

Their land is full of horses [security];

there is no end to their chariots.

Their land is full of idols [a religious substitute for God];

they bow down to the work of their hands,

to what their fingers have made.

Once again, their values, security, and idols replaced God. They lost their dependence on God and became independent of Him. They were clearly at war with the real God by creating their own false god!

 

5.    True or False? Isaiah cried out “Woe is me, because he was burned when touched by the coal from the altar.

The most precious fruit of sanctification is the grace of meekness. When this grace presides in the soul, the disposition is molded by its influence. There is a continual waiting upon God and a submission of the will to His. (Ellen White, Counsels for the Church, p.51) 

Isaiah, humbled and repentant, was now prepared to be God’s special messenger but what a strange message he was to deliver (Isa. 6:9,10)!

He said, “Go and tell this people:

“‘Be ever hearing, but never understanding;

be ever seeing, but never perceiving.’

Make the heart of this people calloused;

make their ears dull

and close their eyes.

Otherwise they might see with their eyes,

hear with their ears,

understand with their hearts,

and turn and be healed.”

Was God asking Isaiah to pronounce gloom and doom? Which raises this question:

 

6.    True or False? God hardens hearts.

 

How would Isaiah’s message harden hearts? Why wasn’t Isaiah’s heart hardened? Does a “greater revelation always bring a greater transformation? Why or why not? Did Jesus harden hearts? He quoted this same passage in relation to His ministry. (Matt. 13:13-15).

 

Reflective Conclusion

Our confession of His faithfulness is Heaven's chosen agency for revealing Christ to the world. We are to acknowledge His grace as made known through the holy men of old; but that which will be most effectual is the testimony of our own experience. We are witnesses for God as we reveal in ourselves the working of a power that is divine. Every individual has a life distinct from all others, and an experience differing essentially from theirs. God desires that our praise shall ascend to Him, marked with our own individuality. These precious acknowledgments to the praise of the glory of His grace, when supported by a Christlike life, have an irresistible power that works for the salvation of souls. Ministry of Healing, p.100

7.      How does the experience of Isaiah relate to the above quote?