As we study on in Isaiah and really deal with these difficult passages of judgment, and not just gloss over them, I pray that we will allow God's Holiness to impact us. This might serve as a good time to remind ourselves of how we studied God's Holiness earlier in Isaiah. We noted that in His holiness God is lofty and exalted (Isaiah 6:1), that in His holiness God is glorious (Isaiah 6:3) and that in His holiness He is morally pure (Isaiah 6:5-7).
The power of a voice proclaiming God's glory can be quite threatening. God's own voice terrifies the Jewish people at Mount Sinai (Exodus 19.18,19; 20.18,19). Here in Isaiah 6.4, "At the sound of their voices the doorposts shook and the temple was filled with smoke". Hebrews 20.18-29 reminds us that even though we have the freedom to approach God we still do so with "reverence and awe, for our "God is a consuming fire"". Finally, in the last days God's own glory and power are so overcoming that no one can be in His presence (Revelation 15.8).
To pray that we will allow God's Holiness to impact us is not a matter to be taken lightly. However, can we purse God in any other way? May Jesus change us to make us more like Him (2 Corinthians 3.18)!
