Isaiah 8:1-4

In Isaiah 7, God promised that in the distant future, a virgin will have a son from the line of David. In verse 14, He states that son would be named “Immanuel”, “God with us”, because he will signify God’s presence and protection to that generation of Israelites.

But the reason this son won’t come soon is that the current King Ahaz placed his trust in Assyria for protection, rather than God. God has another son planned for Isaiah’s generation, named in Isaiah 8:1-4. 

1 Then Yahweh said to me, “Take for yourself a large tablet and write on it in ordinary letters: Concerning Maher-shalal-hash-baz. 2 And I will take to Myself faithful witnesses for testimony, Uriah the priest and Zechariah the son of Jeberechiah.” 3 Then I drew near to the prophetess, and she conceived and bore a son. Then Yahweh said to me, “Call his name Maher-shalal-hash-baz, 4 for before the boy knows how to cry out ‘My father’ or ‘My mother,’ the wealth of Damascus and the spoil of Samaria will be carried away before the king of Assyria.”

Unlike “Immanuel/God with us”, this son will be named “Maher-shalal-hash-baz” which means "Swift is the booty, speedy is the prey”.

Some commentators mistakenly assume these two boys are actually the same boy. However, this misses several differentiating factors in Isaiah 7-8:

• First, consider their different origins. Immanuel will be born of a virgin (7:14); but Maher-shalal-hash-baz is born when Isaiah “drew near to the prophetess, and she conceived and bore a son” (8:3). One is a miraculous child born in the future because King Ahaz rejected God’s offer of a sign. The other is a non-miraculous child well-suited to the worldly-minded Ahaz.

• Second, notice the meaning of their different names: “Swift is the booty, speedy is the prey” symbolizes the beginning of the decline of Israel as Assyria invades and carries away her wealth. In contrast, the second, “God with us” symbolizes the renewal of Israel as God establishes His active presence on earth through the Messiah, Jesus. 

• Third, notice the different times when they will be born. Maher-shalal-hash-baz is born in a time of abundance, when Judah is a wealthy, key player in international politics, financially capable of making alliances with Assyria (2 Kings 16:7-9). But Immanuel is born in a time of scarcity, when Judah has been conquered and its population decimated (Isaiah 7:14-25).

• Fourth and finally, consider the different spiritual implications. One son, Maher-shalal-hash-baz, foretells God’s immediate punishment of Israel through the attack of Assyria. The other son, Immanuel, assures God’s enduring faithfulness to Israel as He keeps the covenants He’s made with her through Abraham, Moses, and David.

God isn’t done with Israel just because they fell into sin. But He will bring the curses for sin that His covenant with Israel requires (Deuteronomy 28-29). Later, He will bring them back to genuine faith in Himself, as He promised in Deuteronomy 30.  For all genuine Christians who know Immanuel, the Messiah Jesus, we enjoy all these blessings of restoration to God through Jesus with none of the curses for our disobedience. Though we had fallen into the dominion of Satan, through Jesus we are delivered into the peace of Immanuel.

Pastor David