The Face of God Series: The Face of God in Isaiah Chapter 6

The Face of God in Isaiah 6: Encountering Holiness

Read the full chapter on Bible Gateway.

Isaiah 6 is one of the most vivid and powerful moments in all of Scripture—a direct glimpse into the throne room of God. Here, the prophet Isaiah experiences a vision of God’s holiness, His majesty, and His call to service. But this isn’t just an event from the past. The truths found in this chapter are just as relevant today, calling us to reflect on who God is and how we respond to Him.

Isaiah 6:1-4

“In the year King Uzziah died, I saw the Lord seated on a high and lofty throne, with the train of his garment filling the temple. Seraphim were stationed above; each of them had six wings: with two they covered their faces, with two they covered their feet, and with two they hovered. One cried out to the other: ‘Holy, holy, holy is the LORD of hosts! All the earth is filled with his glory!’ At the sound of that cry, the frame of the door shook, and the house was filled with smoke.”

God as the High and Holy King

Isaiah’s vision begins with a stunning revelation of God’s majesty. This isn’t just an impressive scene—it is a declaration of who God truly is. He is high and exalted, ruling over all creation, yet His presence is so overwhelming that even the temple—the very place where His glory dwells—is shaken to its core.

Notice how the seraphim, the highest order of angels, cover their faces and feet in the presence of God. Even these sinless beings cannot bear to look upon His full glory. They cry out, “Holy, holy, holy is the LORD of hosts!”—the only attribute of God in Scripture repeated three times. This repetition emphasizes absolute, infinite holiness. Holiness is not just one of God’s traits—it is the foundation of His entire being.

God’s holiness is awe-inspiring, but it can also feel distant. How do we approach a God so high and lifted up? Isaiah’s response gives us the answer.

Isaiah 6:5

“Then I said, ‘Woe is me, I am doomed! For I am a man of unclean lips, living among a people of unclean lips; yet my eyes have seen the King, the LORD of hosts!’”

God’s Holiness and Our Unworthiness

Isaiah’s reaction isn’t joy or excitement—it’s fear. He is immediately overwhelmed by his own sinfulness. Standing in the light of God’s holiness reveals the depth of human imperfection in a way that nothing else can. Holiness exposes what is unholy.

But here’s the key: Isaiah’s recognition of his unworthiness doesn’t lead to rejection—it leads to purification.

Isaiah 6:6-7

“Then one of the seraphim flew to me, holding an ember which he had taken with tongs from the altar. He touched my mouth with it and said, ‘See, now that this has touched your lips, your wickedness is removed, your sin purged.’”

God as the Purifier

God does not leave Isaiah in his unworthiness. Instead, He acts. The burning coal from the altar represents both purification and atonement. It is not Isaiah who makes himself worthy—it is God who cleanses him.

This is a direct foreshadowing of Christ. Just as Isaiah is purified by an action from God’s altar, we are cleansed not by our own merit, but through the sacrifice of Christ. God’s holiness does not push us away—it draws us into transformation.

Isaiah 6:8

“Then I heard the voice of the Lord saying, ‘Whom shall I send? Who will go for us?’ I said, ‘Here I am; send me!’”

God’s Call and Our Response

This moment marks a dramatic shift. The same Isaiah who was just crying out, “Woe is me!” now boldly says, “Here I am, send me!” His encounter with God’s holiness has not left him paralyzed—it has commissioned him.

This is what an encounter with God does. It does not leave us the same. True worship should always lead to a transformed life. Isaiah is not sent because he is strong, wise, or powerful. He is sent because God has made him ready.

Isaiah 6:9-13

“Go and say to this people: Listen carefully, but do not understand! Look intently, but do not perceive! Make the heart of this people sluggish, dull their ears and close their eyes; Lest they see with their eyes, and hear with their ears, and their heart understand, and they turn and be healed.”

God’s Sovereignty and the Mystery of Hardness

This is one of the most difficult parts of Isaiah’s commission. Instead of being sent with a message that would bring immediate repentance, Isaiah is told that the people will not listen—their hearts will be hardened, their eyes closed.

This doesn’t mean that God desires their destruction, but rather that He is revealing the condition of their hearts. Isaiah’s message is meant to expose their unwillingness to repent, making clear the spiritual blindness they have already chosen. This passage echoes the words of Jesus, who often spoke in parables, saying, “Whoever has ears, let them hear” (Matthew 13:9).

But this isn’t where the chapter ends.

Isaiah 6:11-13: The Hope of the Holy Seed

“How long, O Lord?” I asked. And he replied: Until the cities are desolate, without inhabitants, Houses, without people, and the land is a desolate waste. Until the Lord sends the people far away, and great is the desolation in the midst of the land. If there remain a tenth part in it, then this in turn shall be laid waste; like a terebinth or an oak whose stump remains standing when it is felled. The holy seed is its stump.”

Even in judgment, God leaves hope. Though the land will suffer devastation, a remnant will remain—the “holy seed.” This imagery of a tree stump suggests death and loss, yet also the promise of new growth. This remnant is a theme throughout Isaiah, ultimately pointing to Jesus, the true Holy Seed from whom redemption and restoration will come.

This passage challenges us to trust God’s long-term plan, even when it seems like all hope is lost. The message of Isaiah 6 is not just about judgment—it’s about God’s faithfulness to preserve His people and fulfill His promises.

Final Reflection: What Does This Mean for Us?

Isaiah 6 reveals a God who is holy, awe-inspiring, and utterly beyond us, yet also a God who purifies, calls, and commissions.

• God’s holiness reminds us who He is. He is not small, distant, or manageable. He is the King, exalted above all things.
• God’s grace meets us where we are. When we recognize our sinfulness, He does not reject us—He cleanses us.
• God’s call transforms us. When we truly encounter Him, we cannot stay the same. We are sent out to reflect His holiness in the world.

Like Isaiah, we are invited into this vision—not just as spectators, but as people who respond. What is God calling you to do? How is He refining you? And most of all, how will you answer when He says, “Whom shall I send?”

When The Face of God in Isaiah series is complete, you’ll be able to purchase a full copy in our store. If you’re looking for a deep and faithful study resource in the meantime, I highly recommend the Ignatius Press Catholic Study Bible—a phenomenal tool for understanding Scripture in its fullest depth.