Isaiah and Ahaz
In Isaiah chapters 6-9 it tells the story of when Isaiah was confronting Ahaz. Ahaz had made a alliance with Assyria against enemies around him. Ahaz isn't a very well known bible character and you may wonder what his experience has to do with you. Ahaz though wasn't that different from many people today. We tend to put our faith in what we can see and to respond to our fear instead of faith. In that case, Ahaz's experience is very much like ours. Ahaz was scared of a power that he could see on his front door step. Isaiah came to warn him about putting his faith in people instead of the Lord. I thought it was interesting that W.Wiersbe noted that the Lord uses four names in these chapters to send a message about what he is going to do.
To Ahaz, he told him the name Immanuel which means "God with us". Ahaz was trusting in man. In fact, the evidence from the bible was that the people were consulting mediums and spiritists instead of the Lord verse 19. God warned Isaiah not to be like the people and not to fear the same things they did. He told him instead to revere and fear Him and he would be a great sanctuary to him Is 8:12-14. In Isaiah 8:5-10, the Lord accuses them of putting their trust in a torrential flood river instead of a peaceful stream.
The second name is one of Isaiah's sons Shear-jashub. The name was a name of hope which meant "A remnant will return". Soon Assyria would come and lay seige to the people of Israel and there would be famine and starvation and death. This young man's name, though it sounds strange to us, was a message of hope in a dark time.
His second son had the name "Maher-shalel-hash-baz, which means "quick to plunder and swift to take the spoil". This was a word about Assyria, who would soon destroy Israel's nearest neighbors and become a threat themselves. They would destroy Israel's enemies within 2 years of this passage and destroy all of the kingdoms to the north of Jerusalem.
The fourth name is Isaiah's name itself. Isaiah meant "Jehovah is salvation". It was a constant reminder that the people were not to put their trust in other people or things, but in the Lord.
To Ahaz, he told him the name Immanuel which means "God with us". Ahaz was trusting in man. In fact, the evidence from the bible was that the people were consulting mediums and spiritists instead of the Lord verse 19. God warned Isaiah not to be like the people and not to fear the same things they did. He told him instead to revere and fear Him and he would be a great sanctuary to him Is 8:12-14. In Isaiah 8:5-10, the Lord accuses them of putting their trust in a torrential flood river instead of a peaceful stream.
The second name is one of Isaiah's sons Shear-jashub. The name was a name of hope which meant "A remnant will return". Soon Assyria would come and lay seige to the people of Israel and there would be famine and starvation and death. This young man's name, though it sounds strange to us, was a message of hope in a dark time.
His second son had the name "Maher-shalel-hash-baz, which means "quick to plunder and swift to take the spoil". This was a word about Assyria, who would soon destroy Israel's nearest neighbors and become a threat themselves. They would destroy Israel's enemies within 2 years of this passage and destroy all of the kingdoms to the north of Jerusalem.
The fourth name is Isaiah's name itself. Isaiah meant "Jehovah is salvation". It was a constant reminder that the people were not to put their trust in other people or things, but in the Lord.
