Isaiah’s Message About the Coming Invasion
The Lord said to me: Take a large scroll. Write on it with a regular pen about Maher-shalal-hash-baz. I got faithful witnesses to write down what happened. They were Uriah the priest and Zechariah, the son of Jeberechiah. I went to the prophetess. She had a baby boy. Then the Lord said to me: Name him Maher-shalal-hash-baz. Before the child learns to say “My father” and “My mother,” the riches of Damascus and the treasures of Samaria will be taken away by the king of Assyria.
The Lord Warns His People
The Lord spoke to me again. He said: “This people has refused the gentle waters of Shiloah. They are happy about Rezin and Remaliah’s son. So the Lord will bring against them the waters of the river, strong and powerful. This means the king of Assyria and all his army. He will come up over all his channels and go over all his banks. He will pass through Judah. He will overflow and go over. He will reach up to the neck. His armies will spread out and fill your land, O Immanuel.“
“Join together, you nations, but you will be broken into pieces. Listen, all you from far away countries. Get ready for battle, but you will be broken into pieces. Get ready for battle, but you will be broken into pieces. Make your plans together, but they won’t work. Speak your word, but it won’t happen. God is with us.“
Trust God, Not People’s Fears
The Lord spoke to me with power. He taught me not to follow the ways of this people. He said: “Don’t call everything a plot that these people call a plot. Don’t be scared of what they are scared of. Don’t be afraid. Honor the Lord of hosts as holy. Let him be what you fear. Let him be what you dread.
He will be a safe place. But he will be like a stone people trip over. He will be like a rock that causes trouble for both houses of Israel. He will be like a trap and a snare to the people living in Jerusalem. Many of them will trip and fall. They will be broken. They will be snared and taken.“
Wait for the Lord
“Tie up the testimony. Seal the law among my disciples.” I will wait for the Lord, who hides his face from the house of Jacob. I will look for him. I and the children the Lord has given me are signs and wonders in Israel. We come from the Lord of hosts, who lives on Mount Zion.
Don’t Seek Spirits, Seek God
When people say to you: “Ask those who talk to spirits. Ask the wizards who whisper and mutter.” But shouldn’t people ask their God for help? Should the living ask the dead? Listen to the law and the testimony. If people don’t speak according to this word, it’s because there is no light in them.
They will pass through the land in hard times and hungry. When they are hungry, they will get upset. They will curse their king and their God. They will look up. They will look at the earth. They will see trouble and darkness and terrible pain. They will be pushed into darkness.