Moses saw a bush ablaze, yet not consumed. The ground where he stood was holy, because the living God was present in his burning majesty. And Moses was made to keep his distance.
Isaiah saw the LORD, high and lifted up and the train of his robe filled the temple. All was smoke and sublimity. And he was so deeply conscious of the holiness of God that his own uncleanness became a palpable, damning reality.
Peter listens to the man on the shore and casts his nets where he had no expectation of finding fish. He and his friends were overwhelmed by the haul. In the catch, he caught a glimpse of God’s otherness; in that sign, he saw his sin and was humbled to his knees.
Three men, awed by God’s majesty, made deeply aware of their own fractured and soiled humanity.
And in each case the LORD deals graciously with them: Moses the exile is reminded that this is the God of his fathers, the God of promise; Isaiah’s lips are scorched by coals and told his sin is atoned for; Peter is simply told not to fear, presumably because fear has to do with judgement and he is now in the presence of the source of redeeming love.
And in each case the LORD speaks to them of his mission to rescue a lost and broken world and calls them into the service of that rescue plan: “So now, go…”; “Go and tell this people”; “From now on you will fish for people”.
Three men shown God’s glory - not to crush them but to commission them; to humble them that they might be raised into serving God and his gospel of grace.
