In beholding his God, the prophet, like Saul of Tarsus at the gate of Damascus, had not only been given a view of his own unworthiness; there had come to his humbled heart the assurance of forgiveness, full and free; and he had arisen a changed man. He had seen his Lord. He had caught a glimpse of the loveliness of the divine character. He could testify of the transformation wrought through beholding Infinite Love. Henceforth he was inspired with longing desire to see erring Israel set free from the burden and penalty of sin. "Why should ye be stricken any more?" the prophet inquired. "Come now, and let us reason together, 315 saith the Lord: though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they be red like crimson, they shall be as wool." "Wash you, make you clean; put away the evil of your doings from before Mine eyes; cease to do evil; learn to do well." Isaiah 1:5, 18, 16, 17.

Da profeten Esajas så Gud i helligdommen, og da Saulus fra Tarsus så Gud ved Damaskus port, kom de til at indse deres egen uværdighed, men i deres ydmygelse fik de også forsikringen om hel og fuld tilgivelse. Da Esajas rejste sig, var han et nyt menneske. Han havde set sin Herre. Han havde set et glimt af Guds herlige karakter. Nu kunne han vidne om den forandring, som var sket, fordi han havde set Gud, som er kærlighed. Fra dette øjeblik ønskede han af hele sit hjerte, at det vildfarne Israel ville blive befriet for syndens byrde og straf. "Kan I tåle flere hug?" spurgte profeten. "Kom, lad os gå i rette med hinanden, siger Herren. Er eders synder som skarlagen, de skal blive hvide som sne; er de end røde som purpur, de skal dog blive som uld." "Tvæt jer, rens jer, bort med de onde gerninger fra mine øjne! Hør op med det onde, lær det gode." Es. 1,5. 16-18.