Isaiah - Verse By Verse

Isaiah - Day 147

versebyverse | November 13, 2008 21:25

Scripture:  Isaiah 8:3 (NIV):  "Then I went to the prophetess, and she conceived and gave birth to a son.  And the LORD said to me, 'Name him Maher-Shalal-Hash-Baz.' "

Thought:  To me, God wants to be involved in our lives so that we will give Him all due respect.

Question:  Have I consciously given God His due respect today?

Matthew Henry interprets this "prophetess" as being the wife of the prophet, Isaiah, and I would have to agree.  God is using important record-keeping and important witnesses (see yesterday's verse), and He is here using a very important event--the beginning of the life of the son of the prophet Isaiah himself.  Important things are used in order to make a deep impression upon Israel--to stir their hearts toward the things of God. 

As was written on the scroll (Isaiah 8:1), the same name put down for the record is now commanded by God to be given to this child:  "Maher-Shalal-Hash-Baz", which means "quick to the plunder, swift to the spoil."  It is Israel's enemy, Assyria, (as shall become apparent later), that is referred to in the meaning of this child's name.  Assyria will be swift and powerful--stripping Israel with lightning speed, when once the attack begins.  

Why should the name be given to Isaiah's child?  Perhaps to provide an ever-present reminder to both the prophet and the Jews at hand of God's message:  Assyria will be a fierce enemy!  Also it could provide a time-frame for the flow of events as the child grows from infancy to toddler to child, etc.  From conception to birth is roughly nine months; therefore we know that the initialization of the prophesied message would begin in about that span of time.  (See tomorrow's verse for more on the "time span".)

We see God's powerful sovereignty.  We see His command over Isaiah.  We see, in comparing the meanings of the two sons of Isaiah mentioned thus far (Isaiah 7:3, the son Shear-Jashub, meaning "a remnant will return", and today's verse, the son Maher-Shalal-Hash-Baz, meaning "quick to the plunder, swift to the spoil"), first mercy, then judgment.  First the promise of a returning remnant of people who will survive and now a threat of speedy domination, with oppression and suffering.

Can we believe that both are true?

Prayer:  Oh Sovereign God, strengthen my faith in You!  Help me to take Your warnings very seriously.  Thank You for caring so very much about us and reaching out so very far with Your messages and Your words.  Help me to listen.  Amen.   

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