Gilbert House Fellowship
Episode: Here I Am! Send Me
Date: January 18, 2026
Hosts: Derek and Sharon Gilbert

Episode Overview

In this episode of Gilbert House Fellowship, Derek and Sharon Gilbert dive into Isaiah 6, exploring the prophet’s commission and his vision of the divine throne room. The discussion covers the supernatural beings surrounding God, the historic and prophetic context of Isaiah’s call, and the significance of responding to God’s invitation, "Whom shall I send?" The hosts weave in their signature blend of biblical scholarship, relevant history, cultural references, and heartfelt personal stories, emphasizing faithfulness, the supernatural reality of scripture, and being ready to serve as called.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. On Verse-by-Verse Bible Study and Church Culture

• The Gilberts explain the importance of verse-by-verse exegesis, lamenting that many churches cherry-pick themes instead of teaching context.
  • "Some pastors out there, I won't say many...basically don't cherry pick a few verses to come up with a theme for your sermon this week. You dive into the text..." – Derek (03:04)
• They honor several teachers who favor this method, such as Gary Stearman, the late Tom Horn, and others.
• Sharon shares her experience growing up with deep scriptural teaching:
  • "On Wednesday nights, you got verse by verse exegesis...9, 10 years old, I was getting fed." (04:29)
• This segues into Isaiah 6 as an example of deep, contextual reading.

2. The Call and Vision of Isaiah (Isaiah 6)

• Isaiah 6 is set “in the year that King Uzziah died” (7:03), around 740 BC, situating it historically and prophetically. Uzziah’s death also parallels a memorable earthquake referenced in scripture and history.
• The Gilberts highlight the ancient practice of “time-stamping” major events by reigning monarchs or significant occurrences.

The Supernatural Throne Room

• They unpack Isaiah’s vision:
  • God ("Adonai" or "Yahweh") is seen on a high and lifted throne.
  • The seraphim are depicted with six wings; two cover their faces, two cover their "feet" (a euphemism for genitals—discussed for context), and two for flying (13:26–16:33).
  • The term “seraphim” is traced etymologically to “burning ones” with notes on serpentine and fiery imagery (16:33).
  • Sharon ties in Egyptian mythology—with deities like Serapis and the visual of the Uraeus serpent—to show overlapping ancient motifs (16:41–25:07).
  • The Gilberts discuss the DDD (“Dictionary of Deities and Demons in the Bible”) as a key academic resource for these supernatural entities (19:31–21:51).

Cherubim, Seraphim, and Dragons

• Exploration of the distinctions between cherubim and seraphim, and speculation about connections with “dragons” in both scripture and ancient Near Eastern mythology.
  • "Flying fiery serpent that burns things up. That would be a dragon, would it not?" – Derek (22:05)
• The conversation includes references to contemporary culture like The NeverEnding Story and historic sources like the Septuagint and Mesopotamian myth (24:25–25:07).
• They argue for a supernatural understanding of such creatures, not merely allegorical or naturalistic explanations.

The Holy, Holy, Holy (Trisagion)

• Sharon brings in music, referencing Mendelssohn’s “Elijah,” capturing the power of the throne room worship (17:51).
• “Holy, holy, holy is Yahweh of armies. The whole earth is full of his glory.” – Isaiah 6:3, read and discussed as a prophetic statement for a future fulfillment (30:26–31:14).

Isaiah’s Response and Purification

• Isaiah’s reaction: Overwhelmed by his own unworthiness, he is purified by a coal from the altar, enabling him to remain in God’s presence.
  • “Woe is me, for I am lost...for my eyes have seen the king, Yahweh of hosts.” – Isaiah 6:5 (34:34–34:45)
  • The idea of purification by burning, and the role of altars and sacrifice, are unpacked with cross-references to Revelation and Old Testament ritual.

The Divine Commission – “Here I Am, Send Me”

• The famous line “Here I am. Send me” (Hebrew: Hineni) becomes the episode’s central theme, both biblically and personally (37:23–39:50).
  • "It's because it's not always a call to go and, you know, fight for Israel, but a call to do whatever the Lord has designed us to do.” – Derek (40:23)
  • Sharon gets emotional recalling examples of ordinary “Hineni” responses in her own life and others’ ministries.

3. Obedience Doesn’t Guarantee Immediate Results

• God warns Isaiah that people will hear but not understand, see but not perceive (45:30–48:00).
• Discussion: Why would God send a prophet to a people He knows won’t listen? Sharon and Derek see this as a multi-layered prophetic warning, not unlike the repeated refusals of Israel throughout history.

4. Historical and Prophetic Context

• The Gilberts provide a historical trajectory:

  • Isaiah’s prophecy foreshadows the fall of Israel, Babylonian exile, Roman dispersal (the Diaspora), and the repeated survival of a remnant (49:53–52:51).
  • The “holy seed is its stump” (Isaiah 6:13) is seen as messianic:
    • "This is a foreshadowing of the Messianic prophecy in Isaiah 11." – Sharon (52:59)

• Sharon shares a personal story of collecting an acorn from a historic oak in Israel as a symbol of resilience, connecting biblical remnant imagery with modern Israel (53:23–54:33).

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• "Some verses can really lead you down some weird paths if you’re not fitting it into the whole of Scripture, the whole of the Bible." – Sharon (04:21)
• “The supernatural realm is far richer and more densely populated than most of us have been taught.” – Derek (76:01)
• "Here I am. Send me." – Isaiah 6:8, referenced and repeatedly emphasized throughout (37:23, 39:50, 76:01)
• “Every day is a calling and every day is an answer.” – Sharon (44:46)
• "If just one person stumbles across something that we do and says, wow, this now makes sense, then everything that we've done for the last 20 years is worth it." – Derek (44:25)
• “Your calling is tailor made for the gifts the Lord blessed you with.” – Derek (42:21)

Important Segment Timestamps

• Podcast purpose and “virtual congregation” intro: 00:14–02:19
• Why verse-by-verse matters: 02:19–05:33
• Set-up of Isaiah 6 historical context: 07:03–08:25
• Discussion of seraphim, Hebrew and mythological backgrounds: 13:26–25:07
• Isaiah’s vision interpreted as prophetic: 30:26–31:14
• Significance of “Here I Am, Send Me”: 37:23–41:41
• God’s warning about a dullhearted people: 45:30–48:18
• On the “stump” and the remnant theme: 52:51–54:42
• Personal testimonies and answering God’s call: 42:56–44:46

Listener Q&A** (60:03+)

• Alcohol and Christianity: A listener asks about alcohol prohibitions. The Gilberts explain the prohibition grew out of cultural-historical trends (temperance, economic motivations) and emphasize scripture does not ban wine, just drunkenness.
  • "A strict ban on all alcohol consumption is taking the Bible farther than what the Bible says." – Derek (63:40)
• Where to find The Redwing Saga: Sharon explains it’s available on Amazon, SkyWatchTV Store, and via Kindle Unlimited (65:00).

Tone and Atmosphere

• The episode is warm, conversational, and scholarly yet accessible.
• Humorous interludes and honest storytelling (references to barbershop quartets, old people’s reports, and referencing pop culture, e.g., The NeverEnding Story).
• Both hosts are emotionally open about struggles yet hopeful about God’s plans and the importance of everyday faithfulness.

Conclusion & Takeaway

The episode threads together theology, biblical scholarship, and practical discipleship. Isaiah’s “Here I am. Send me.” challenges listeners to say “Hineni” in everyday faithfulness, whether in dramatic ways or through quiet acts of service. The supernatural dimension of scripture is celebrated—not avoided. Sharon and Derek close with prayer, reinforcing a posture of readiness, humility, and gratitude.

For Further Engagement:

• Participate and ask questions via the Gilbert House app and Bible’s Greatest Mysteries group.
• Consider joining the Gilberts on their next Israel tour or at upcoming conferences (details at gilberthouse.org).

Listen for:

• Deep dives into Old Testament supernatural beings (seraphim, cherubim)
• Prophetic, historical, and personal applications of Isaiah 6
• Encouragement to discover and walk in your own God-given calling—even if it's something small

“Every day is a calling and every day is an answer.” – Sharon Gilbert (44:46)