Isaiah 8:1-10

In these verses, God speaks to Isaiah against Judah. The section is titled the The Coming Assyrian Invasion. But what is neat about this passage are verses 8 through 10. In verse 8, the Lord ends his little speech by speaking to himself? "...and its outspread wings will fill the breadth of your land, O Immanuel" (ESV). I am not sure I understand this part. Which brings me to an interesting side note, or bunny trail: the understanding of scripture.

We are called to study God's word and "hide it in [our] heart[s] that [we] might not sin against [God]" (Psalm 119:11). But how can we do this if we don't understand it? Well, the simple answer is that God will make known to us, that which we need to know. But any avid student of God who is truly seeking after him, will undoubtedly have questions that they may never get an answer to. For anyone who thinks this is unfair, try looking at it this way: If we had no questions at all about God or his Word, then what would keep us from becoming equal to him? Only one person has ever actually sought to become equal to God. And we know what happened to the Archangel Lucifer (see Revelation 12). What gives us the right to be equal to THE Creator of the Universe? The only being who has always existed? Who never had a beginning, but was the beginning. "I am the Alpha and the Omega, the first and the last, the beginning and the end" (ESV). He is the beginning and the end, not he has it. But questions though, good honest questions, whether we get an answer to them we understand or not, is good and healthy. It keeps us in check, from becoming to proud. That may be why sometimes God doesn't allow certain insights into his Word.

But back to the passage. Verses 9 and 10, when you look at the passage, are Isaiah's words. God stops speaking at the end of verse 8 (notice the end quotes). Verse 9 and 10 have no quotes. They are, rather, Isaiah's brief commentary, or exhortation, to whom ever will listen, concerning what God told him. His point is this: Not matter what you do, no matter what measures you take, no one can stand up against God. He has the power to crush any and everyone he pleases. Only by his sovereign mercy does he spare my own life, and yours. And Isaiah can speak this from personal experience (see chapter 6).

But notice how he ends the his commentary, and which I see these verses as an exhortation. "Take counsel together, but it will come to nothing; speak a word, but it will not stand, for God is with us" (v. 10, ESV). How encouraging is that. 'If God is for us, then who can be against us?" (Romans 8:31). What then do we have to fear? Nothing. Let this then, give us boldness to face the trials. Let us live for him, "For God is with us."