2 Nephi 16

As we are called to serve in the Lord's kingdom, most of us probably experience the same feelings of inadequacy as Isaiah where Isaiah shares -

"I heard the voice of the Lord, saying: Whom shall I send, and who will go for us?..." (Book of Mormon | 2 Nephi 16:8)

Isaiah having been in the presence of the Lord declares -

"Wo is unto me! for I am undone; because I am a man of unclean lips; and I dwell in the midst of a people of unclean lips; for mine eyes have seen the King, the Lord of Hosts." (Book of Mormon | 2 Nephi 16:5)

You can sense Isaiah's feelings of unworthiness and inadequacy. But -

"Then flew one of the seraphim unto me, having a live coal in his hand, which he had taken with the tongs from off the altar;
7 And he laid it upon my mouth, and said: Lo, this has touched thy lips; and thine iniquity is taken away, and thy sin purged." (Book of Mormon | 2 Nephi 16:6 - 7)

I note that the live coal was from the altar. The altar would be symbolic of sacrifice, even the infinite atonement of the Savior. It is at altars that we bring forth a broken heart and a contrite spirit of sacrifice with a willingness to make covenants with the Lord. I see the "live coal" as a the symbolic cleansing and sanctifying of and individual where we are qualified before the Lord. Sensing the power of the atonement, Isaiah declares -

"...Here am I; send me." (Book of Mormon | 2 Nephi 16:8)

Isaiah's calling was that of many missionaries in declaring repentance to the people, and teaching and preaching the gospel. This was not to be easy for Isaiah as it is not easy today. The Lord tries to prepare Isaiah for the challenging work he is called to to do telling Isaiah -

"...Go and tell this people—Hear ye indeed, but they understood not; and see ye indeed, but they perceived not." (Book of Mormon | 2 Nephi 16:9)

It is obvious that many would not be willing to listen. In fact, the Lord tells Isaiah -

"Make the heart of this people fat, and make their ears heavy, and shut their eyes—lest they see with their eyes, and hear with their ears, and understand with their heart, and be converted and be healed." (Book of Mormon | 2 Nephi 16:10)

This verse can be somewhat confusing. It almost sounds like the Lord is telling Isaiah to make them this way. But I believe the Lord is trying to prepare and train Isaish (using the word make) to mean something more like invision or "picture in your mind" the conditions of these people and the challenges you are going to face. Because as Isaiah pictures this condition of the people, he asks -

"...Lord, how long?..." (Book of Mormon | 2 Nephi 16:11)

Or in other words, how long will this people be like this. And the Lord answers -

"...Until the cities be wasted without inhabitant, and the houses without man, and the land be utterly desolate..." (Book of Mormon | 2 Nephi 16:11)

In other words, even though you may have success, this work will continue to the end.

What great counsel as we are commanded to rescue those around us.