• Trust in Jehovah in the Face of Adversity
    Isaiah’s Prophecy—Light for All Mankind I

    • Precise Predictions

      23. (a) What is Isaiah now commanded to do? (b) How is the sign of the tablet confirmed?

      23 Isaiah now returns to the immediate situation. While Jerusalem is still under siege by the Syro-Israelite combine, Isaiah reports: “Jehovah proceeded to say to me: ‘Take for yourself a large tablet and write upon it with the stylus of mortal man, “Maher-shalal-hash-baz.” And let me have attestation for myself by faithful witnesses, Uriah the priest and Zechariah the son of Jeberechiah.’” (Isaiah 8:1, 2) The name Maher-shalal-hash-baz means “Hasten, O Spoil! He Has Come Quickly to the Plunder.” Isaiah asks two respected men in the community to attest his writing this name on a large tablet, so that they can later confirm the authenticity of the document. This sign, though, is to be confirmed by a second sign.

      24. What effect should the sign of Maher-shalal-hash-baz have on the people of Judah?

      24 Isaiah says: “Then I went near to the prophetess, and she came to be pregnant and in time gave birth to a son. Jehovah now said to me: ‘Call his name Maher-shalal-hash-baz, for before the boy will know how to call out, “My father!” and “My mother!” one will carry away the resources of Damascus and the spoil of Samaria before the king of Assyria.’” (Isaiah 8:3, 4) Both the large tablet and the newborn boy will serve as signs that Assyria will soon plunder Judah’s oppressors, Syria and Israel. How soon? Before the boy is able to say the first words that most babies learn​—“Father” and “Mother.” Such an exact prediction should build the people’s confidence in Jehovah. Or it could cause some to ridicule Isaiah and his sons. Whatever the case, Isaiah’s prophetic words come true.​—2 Kings 17:1-6.

      25. What similarities are there between the days of Isaiah and the present time?

      25 Christians can learn from Isaiah’s repeated warnings. The apostle Paul revealed to us that in this historic drama, Isaiah portrayed Jesus Christ and Isaiah’s sons foreshadowed Jesus’ anointed disciples. (Hebrews 2:10-13) Jesus, through his anointed followers on earth, has been reminding true Christians of the need to “keep awake” in these critical times. (Luke 21:34-36) At the same time, unrepentant opposers are warned of their coming destruction, although such warnings are often met with ridicule. (2 Peter 3:3, 4) The fulfillment of time-related prophecies in Isaiah’s day is a guarantee that God’s timetable for our day will also “without fail come true. It will not be late.”​—Habakkuk 2:3.

      Devastating “Waters”

      26, 27. (a) What events does Isaiah foretell? (b) What do Isaiah’s words indicate for Jehovah’s servants today?

      26 Isaiah continues his warnings: “For the reason that this people has rejected the waters of the Shiloah that are going gently, and there is exultation over Rezin and the son of Remaliah; even therefore, look! Jehovah is bringing up against them the mighty and the many waters of the River, the king of Assyria and all his glory. And he will certainly come up over all his streambeds and go over all his banks and move on through Judah. He will actually flood and pass over. Up to the neck he will reach. And the outspreading of his wings must occur to fill the breadth of your land, O Immanuel!”​—Isaiah 8:5-8.

      27 “This people,” the northern kingdom of Israel, reject Jehovah’s covenant with David. (2 Kings 17:16-18) To them, it looks as weak as the trickling waters of Shiloah, Jerusalem’s water supply. They exult in their war against Judah. But this contempt will not go unpunished. Jehovah will allow the Assyrians to “flood,” or overrun, Syria and Israel, much as Jehovah will soon allow the present political part of the world to flood the realm of false religion. (Revelation 17:16; compare Daniel 9:26.) Next, says Isaiah, the swelling “waters” will “move on through Judah,” reaching right “up to the neck,” up to Jerusalem, where Judah’s head (king) rules.b In our time the political executioners of false religion will likewise close in on Jehovah’s servants, surrounding them “up to the neck.” (Ezekiel 38:2, 10-16) What will be the outcome? Well, what happens in Isaiah’s time? Do the Assyrians surge across the city walls and sweep God’s people away? No. God is with them.

      Fear Not​—“God Is With Us!”

      28. Despite the strenuous efforts of their enemies, of what does Jehovah assure Judah?

      28 Isaiah warns: “Be injurious, O you peoples [opposed to God’s covenant people], and be shattered to pieces; and give ear, all you in distant parts of the earth! Gird yourselves, and be shattered to pieces! Gird yourselves, and be shattered to pieces! Plan out a scheme, and it will be broken up! Speak any word, and it will not stand, for God is with us!” (Isaiah 8:9, 10) Some years later, during the reign of Ahaz’ faithful son Hezekiah, these words come true. When the Assyrians threaten Jerusalem, Jehovah’s angel strikes down 185,000 of them. Clearly, God is with his people and the royal line of David. (Isaiah 37:33-37) During the coming battle of Armageddon, Jehovah will likewise send the Greater Immanuel not only to dash His enemies to pieces but also to rescue all those who trust in Him.​—Psalm 2:2, 9, 12.

      29. (a) How do Jews in Ahaz’ day differ from those in the days of Hezekiah? (b) Why do Jehovah’s servants today refrain from making religious and political alliances?

      29 Unlike Jews in Hezekiah’s time, Ahaz’ contemporaries lack faith in Jehovah’s protection. They favor a confederacy, or “conspiracy,” with the Assyrians as a bulwark against the Syro-Israelite league. However, Jehovah’s “hand” prods Isaiah to speak against “the way of this people,” or the popular trend. He warns: “The object of their fear you men must not fear, nor must you tremble at it. Jehovah of armies​—he is the One whom you should treat as holy, and he should be the object of your fear, and he should be the One causing you to tremble.” (Isaiah 8:11-13) With this in mind, Jehovah’s servants today guard against conspiring with or putting their trust in religious councils and political leagues. Servants of Jehovah have full confidence in God’s protective power. After all, if ‘Jehovah is on our side, what can earthling man do to us?’​—Psalm 118:6.

      30. What will be the fate of those not trusting in Jehovah?

      30 Isaiah goes on to reiterate that Jehovah will prove to be “a sacred place,” a protection, for those trusting in him. In contrast, those rejecting him “will be certain to stumble and to fall and be broken, and to be snared and caught”​—five vivid verbs that leave no doubt about the fate of those not trusting in Jehovah. (Isaiah 8:14, 15) In the first century, those rejecting Jesus likewise stumbled and fell. (Luke 20:17, 18) A similar outcome awaits those today who fail to give allegiance to the enthroned heavenly King, Jesus.​—Psalm 2:5-9.

      31. How can true Christians today follow the example of Isaiah and of those who listen to his teaching?

      31 In Isaiah’s day, not all are stumbled. Isaiah says: “Wrap up the attestation, put a seal about the law among my disciples! And I will keep in expectation of Jehovah, who is concealing his face from the house of Jacob, and I will hope in him.” (Isaiah 8:16, 17) Isaiah and those who heed his teaching will not abandon God’s Law. They keep on trusting in Jehovah, even though their delinquent compatriots refuse to and thus have Jehovah conceal his face from them. May we follow the example of those trusting in Jehovah and have the same determination to cling to pure worship!​—Daniel 12:4, 9; Matthew 24:45; compare Hebrews 6:11, 12.

      “Signs” and “Miracles”

      32. (a) Who today serve “as signs and as miracles”? (b) Why should Christians stand out from the world?

      32 Isaiah now proclaims: “Look! I and the children whom Jehovah has given me are as signs and as miracles in Israel from Jehovah of armies, who is residing in Mount Zion.” (Isaiah 8:18) Yes, Isaiah, Shear-jashub, and Maher-shalal-hash-baz are signs of Jehovah’s purposes for Judah. Today, Jesus and his anointed brothers similarly serve as signs. (Hebrews 2:11-13) And they are joined in their work by “a great crowd” of “other sheep.” (Revelation 7:9, 14; John 10:16) Of course, a sign is valuable only if it stands out from its surroundings. Likewise, Christians fulfill their commission as signs only if they stand out as being different from this world, putting their full trust in Jehovah and boldly proclaiming his purposes.

      33. (a) What are true Christians determined to do? (b) Why will true Christians be able to stand firm?

      33 Let all, then, observe God’s standards, not those of this world. Continue to stand out fearlessly​—as signs—​carrying forward the commission given to the Greater Isaiah, Jesus Christ: “Proclaim the year of goodwill . . . and the day of vengeance on the part of our God.” (Isaiah 61:1, 2; Luke 4:17-21) Indeed, when the Assyrian flood surges across the earth​—even if it reaches up to our necks—​true Christians will not be swept away. We will stand firm because “God is with us.”