Last week, a prophetess friend of mine asked me a question: “What kind of prophet was Isaiah?” I thought she was going to give me an answer, or that it was something to reflect on. She said, “It’s not a trick question; get back to me.” So the holiday came and went and when I saw her next in church I offered her my take. Isaiah was a prophet of hope.

I didn’t reflect on this or go and ready the Book of Isaiah feverishly until I “figure it out.” No, it just struck me in my spirit. Isaiah was a prophet of hope. Even in the doom and gloom, he held out hope. God never took hope away from us. Every many has two things: his will and hope.

Of course, there is no one “right answer” to the question of what kind of prophet Isaiah was. Isaiah was also a prophet who made announcements. He announced the voice of one crying in the wilderness and he announced the coming of the Messiah. You could use a lot of words to describe Isaiah and his ministry. So, I ask you.

What kind of prophet was Isaiah?