Isaiah chapter eight is a very fascinating chapter. It helps one to understand chapter seven a bit better. So, let us take a little time to consider it.
Spoiled, Slaughtered, and Taken Captive
In the first three verses, we read about the birth of Isaiah’s son. God told Isaiah that he would have a son, and that he would name the son Mahershalalhashbaz. Isaiah’s first son was named Shear-jashub, which means “the remnant shall return.” The name Mahershalalhasbaz means, “make speed to the spoil, hasten to the prey.” The name of the first son spoke of mercy, while the name of the second spoke of judgment. Isaiah’s sons are pictures of God’s mercy and judgment on Israel. They are also types, to a small extent, of Jesus, who came the first time in mercy to offer salvation through His death and shed blood on the cross of Calvary. When He comes the second time, He will come to judge the earth and to take vengeance on His enemies.
Let us take a look at Isaiah 8:1-3, “1) Moreover the LORD said unto me, Take thee a great roll, and write in it with a man's pen concerning Mahershalalhashbaz. 2) And I took unto me faithful witnesses to record, Uriah the priest, and Zechariah the son of Jeberechiah. 3) And I went unto the prophetess; and she conceived, and bare a son. Then said the LORD to me, Call his name Mahershalalhashbaz.”
God had Isaiah write down the prophecy of his son’s birth in a great roll, so that it would be like a book that people could read. As he wrote it, he had two faithful witnesses present to record so that the word would be established. That way, people could know that it was true. Isaiah went in unto his wife. Just as God had said, his wife conceived and bare a son. Isaiah called his name Mahershalalhasbaz just as God commanded.
Why was Isaiah to call his son’s name Mahershalalhasbaz? Verse four explains, “For before the child shall have knowledge to cry, My father, and my mother, the riches of Damascus and the spoil of Samaria shall be taken away before the king of Assyria.” This is part of the fulfillment of the near prophecy found in Isaiah 7:16, “Before the child shall know to refuse the evil, and choose the good, the land that thou abhorrest shall be forsaken of both her kings.” Of course, Isaiah’s wife was definitely not a virgin when she conceived her son, but Isaiah’s son was a picture of things to come. Let us look further.
Why was it significant that the riches of Damascus and Samaria would be taken away? What did the king of Assyria have to do with this prophecy? The next few verses answer this question, “5) The LORD spake also unto me again, saying, 6) Forasmuch as this people refuseth the waters of Shiloah that go softly, and rejoice in Rezin and Remaliah's son; 7) Now therefore, behold, the Lord bringeth up upon them the waters of the river, strong and many, even the king of Assyria, and all his glory: and he shall come up over all his channels, and go over all his banks: 8) And he shall pass through Judah; he shall overflow and go over, he shall reach even to the neck; and the stretching out of his wings shall fill the breadth of thy land, O Immanuel.” (verse 5 – 8)
Remember Rezin and Remaliah’s son had come up against Judah and Jerusalem. They took many captives and plundered the land. Ahaz abhorred them because their design was to overtake Judah and Jerusalem and to remove him as king and set up their own kingdom. Just as God promised, they were not able to do this. However, they did take captives and wreaked much havoc and destruction on the land. The account of this can be read in II Chronicles 28:6-15. Ahaz tried to bribe Assyria into helping them, but Assyria would not be bought with a bribe. (See II Chronicles 28:16-21)
Judah should have been considering Rezin and Remaliah’s son to be their enemies. However, they refused God’s mercy and the soft flowing waters of Shiloah. They despised their own government, which they apparently felt failed to protect them. Evidently, their fear of Assyria was so great that they turned to their enemies, Rezin and Remaliah’s son, to be their helpers. But they would not help. Once again, Judah and Jerusalem trusted in the arm of flesh to help them, not on the strong and everlasting arm of Almighty God. Therefore, God would bring the enemy in upon them like a flood. Assyria would not completely take the land until much later, in the days of king Zedekiah, which account can be read in Jeremiah chapter thirty-nine. However, they would still do much damage.
Although the judgment upon Judah and Jerusalem was sore, this judgment was not without mercy. Although Assyria made speed to the spoil and hastened to the prey, they were not permitted to cause complete destruction. Why? Because, even though the people had sinned great sin, the land of Judah and Jerusalem was still Immanuel’s land. God protected it for the sake of His own name. It would not be completely destroyed because God had chosen that land for His name.
Do not these things paint a vivid picture of what is happening in America right now? We had a President who, although it seemed he was not a godly man, at least tried to preserve America. He abhorred America’s enemies. Yet, many in America have rejected their own government and turned against it and are turning to the enemies of America to rescue them. There are some who still trust in the former President. There are some who trust in those whose real design is to destroy this country. But how many trust in Almighty God? How many turn to the true Answer for our nation? Are we also refusing the soft flowing waters of God’s mercy to trust in the arm of flesh to save us? What will be the end for us? Unlike He did with Israel, God has not promised to protect America from complete destruction. America is not the chosen Immanuel’s land. Would it not behoove us to humble ourselves and seek God’s face and turn from our wicked ways and cast ourselves upon the mercy of God? It is of His mercies we are not consumed. But how much longer before God withdraws His hand of mercy and wrath and judgment fall? Would it not make sense to call upon Him for mercy now? The time may come when we call desperately for repentance, and no more place will be found for it.