How could Isaiah’s sins be forgiven? What was the vision of the burning coal supposed to represent?

The rest of Isaiah fills in the picture. It speaks of a servant who would suffer so that our sins could be forgiven (Isaiah 53). It tells us that the sign of his coming would be a virgin (Mary!) conceiving and bearing a son who would be known as “Immanuel” (Isa. 7:14), which means “God with us.” And it says that this deliverer would sit on David’s throne and rule over a never-ending kingdom of peace (Isa. 9:7). Any guess who this could be?

That’s right! Jesus! The sacrifice on the altar that allows our sins to be forgiven isn’t ultimately a piece of coal. It’s Jesus, who gave himself up so that we could be forgiven.