The Call of a Prophet
“Also I heard the voice of the Lord, saying: ‘Whom shall I send, and who will go for Us?’ Then I said, ‘Here am I! Send me.’” — Isaiah 6:8, NKJV
These devotional questions are original writing for this site, not the official Sabbath School quarterly. Read the full official lesson at ssnet.org.
Last week we saw that God never stopped speaking to His people, even after sin broke their close friendship with Him. This week we meet some of the people God chose to carry that message forward.
None of them were perfect. Abraham doubted. Elijah grew afraid. Isaiah felt unworthy. John the Baptist wrestled with doubt in prison. But each one, in their own way, answered when God called.
As you read this week, ask yourself the same question God asked Isaiah: “Whom shall I send?” And consider what it might look like to answer the way he did.
A Man Who Believed God
God chose one man, Abraham, to carry His covenant forward to the whole world. Abraham was not perfect. He made mistakes. But when God called him to leave his home and go to a new land, he obeyed (Genesis 12:1–9). Scripture says he “believed in the Lord; and he counted it to him for righteousness” (Genesis 15:6).
What does it mean that Abraham “believed in the Lord, and he counted it to him for righteousness” (Genesis 15:6)?
Abraham wasn't made right with God by being perfect. He was made right by trusting God's promise. This is the same gospel truth Paul later explains in Galatians 3:6–9 — faith, not perfection, is what God asks for.
Why was Abraham willing to offer his son Isaac when God asked him to (Genesis 22:1–2)?
It was the hardest test of his life. But Abraham had learned to trust God completely, even when he could not understand what God was doing. He believed God would provide a way.
What did God do at the last moment, as Abraham raised his knife over Isaac (Genesis 22:10–13)?
God stopped Abraham's hand and provided a ram to take Isaac's place. It was a picture of what God would one day do for all of us through His own Son.
Hebrews 11:8 says Abraham “obeyed…not knowing whither he went.” Have you ever had to trust God without knowing exactly where He was leading you?
A personal question worth sitting with — Abraham's obedience came before his understanding, not after it.
Elijah and the Idols
Years later, Israel had turned away from God to worship false gods. God sent the prophet Elijah to call His people back. On Mount Carmel, Elijah challenged the prophets of Baal, and the people saw that the Lord alone is God (1 Kings 18:19–39).
What did Elijah ask the people to decide on Mount Carmel (1 Kings 18:21)?
He asked them to stop wavering between two opinions. If the Lord is God, follow Him. If Baal is God, follow him. Elijah wanted a real decision, not a divided heart.
How did God answer Elijah's prayer in front of all the people (1 Kings 18:36–38)?
Fire fell from heaven and consumed the sacrifice, even though it was soaked with water. God proved, in a way no one could deny, that He alone is the true God.
What does Malachi 4:5–6 say the “Elijah message” will do to families?
It will turn the hearts of parents and children back to each other. A message that calls people back to God always begins by healing the home.
What “idols” — things that quietly compete with God for first place — do you think are common in homes today?
A personal reflection question, worth answering honestly rather than in general terms.
Isaiah's “Here Am I”
Isaiah saw a vision of the Lord, high and holy, and felt the weight of his own sin (Isaiah 6:1–5). But God cleansed him and gave him a mission. When God asked, “Whom shall I send?” Isaiah answered without hesitation (Isaiah 6:8).
Why did Isaiah cry out, “Woe is me!” when he saw the Lord (Isaiah 6:5)?
Standing before God's holiness, Isaiah suddenly saw his own sin clearly. It's often only in God's presence that we truly see ourselves.
What did the seraph do to Isaiah in Isaiah 6:6–7, and what did it mean?
A live coal touched Isaiah's lips, and he was told his sin was taken away. God didn't just call Isaiah — He first cleansed him, so he could go in confidence, not guilt.
What did Isaiah say when God asked, “Whom shall I send, and who will go for Us?” (Isaiah 6:8)?
“Here am I! Send me.” He didn't ask what the job would cost him. He simply offered himself.
Isaiah 53 describes the Messiah as “led like a lamb to the slaughter” for our sins (Isaiah 53:7). What does it mean to you that this was written down more than 500 years before Jesus was born?
A personal reflection question — the accuracy of this prophecy is one reason among many to trust God's Word.
Daniel's Quiet Faithfulness
Daniel was taken from his home as a young man, but he decided early not to compromise (Daniel 1:8). Even in small things, like what he ate, he chose to honor God. That same faithfulness carried him through a den of lions and made him a witness to kings.
What did Daniel decide about the king's food and wine, and why (Daniel 1:8)?
He chose not to eat it, so he would not defile himself. It was a small decision, made long before any big test came — and it shaped the man he became.
What did King Nebuchadnezzar say about Daniel's God after Daniel explained his dream (Daniel 2:47)?
He said Daniel's God is “a God of gods, and a Lord of kings.” Daniel's life and faithfulness became a testimony to a pagan king.
What did Daniel's vision in Daniel 2 predict about the kingdoms of the world?
It predicted the rise and fall of great empires, ending with God's own kingdom that will never be destroyed (Daniel 2:44). Centuries of history have unfolded exactly as it described.
What does Daniel's example teach us about faithfulness in small, everyday choices?
A personal reflection question — the big tests of faith are usually prepared for by small, quiet decisions made long before.
A Voice in the Wilderness
John the Baptist was sent to prepare the way for Jesus (Mark 1:2–5). He lived simply and preached boldly, calling people to turn back to God. Even when he was thrown into prison, Jesus sent him a message of encouragement (Matthew 11:1–6).
What was John the Baptist's message, according to Mark 1:4?
He preached “the baptism of repentance for the remission of sins.” His job was to prepare people's hearts before Jesus began His ministry.
While John was in prison, what question did he send to Jesus (Matthew 11:2–3)?
He asked, “Art thou he that should come, or do we look for another?” Even John, faithful as he was, wrestled with doubt in his hardest moment.
How did Jesus answer John's doubt (Matthew 11:4–5)?
Jesus pointed to His own works — the blind see, the lame walk, the gospel is preached to the poor. He let the evidence of what God was doing speak for itself.
Have you ever, like John, struggled to understand why God allowed something hard in your life even though you were being faithful to Him?
A personal reflection question, worth sitting with rather than rushing past.
Ellen White's First Vision
In December 1844, a few weeks after the Great Disappointment, a seventeen-year-old named Ellen Harmon received her first vision from God. It came at a moment when many discouraged believers needed hope.
What had just happened to the Millerite believers before Ellen Harmon's first vision?
They had expected Jesus to return on October 22, 1844. When He did not come, they experienced the Great Disappointment — one of the most painful moments in Adventist history.
What did Ellen's first vision show her about the path God's people were on?
She saw a path leading from earth to the heavenly city, with Jesus just ahead, leading the way. As long as believers kept their eyes fixed on Him, they were safe.
Why was this vision such good news for the disappointed believers?
It told them God had not abandoned them. Jesus was still with them, still leading them, and still coming again — even though their timing had been mistaken.
Ellen White was only seventeen, and afraid of the responsibility God had given her. What does her story tell us about the kind of people God chooses to use?
A personal reflection question — God often calls people who feel unprepared or unworthy, and equips them for the task.
For Discussion
This week we studied Abraham, Elijah, Isaiah, Daniel, and John the Baptist. Which of these prophets' stories speaks most to where you are in your own walk with God right now?
An open question — there's no wrong answer, only your own honest reflection.
Isaiah said, “Here am I! Send me” (Isaiah 6:8). What is one way God might be calling you to say the same thing this week?
A personal question worth naming something specific, not just a general willingness.
Several of this week's prophets faced real fear or doubt before or during their calling. How does that change the way you think about your own doubts?
A question worth sitting with — doubt and faithfulness are not opposites in Scripture; they often appear together.
How does knowing that God has always spoken through imperfect, sometimes afraid people give you hope for how He might use you?
A closing question to carry into the week ahead, as this quarter's study continues.
