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

    • 5. In what way do God’s people today resemble Isaiah?

      5 Jehovah tells Isaiah: “Go out, please, to meet Ahaz, you and Shear-jashub your son, to the end of the conduit of the upper pool by the highway of the laundryman’s field.” (Isaiah 7:3) Just think! At a time when the king should be looking for Jehovah’s prophet and asking for guidance, the prophet has to go and find the king! Even so, Isaiah willingly obeys Jehovah. Similarly, God’s people today readily go out to find people who are fearful because of the pressures of this world. (Matthew 24:6, 14) How satisfying that each year hundreds of thousands respond to the visits of these preachers of the good news and take hold of Jehovah’s protective hand!

      6. (a) What heartening message does the prophet convey to King Ahaz? (b) What situation exists today?

      6 Isaiah finds Ahaz outside the walls of Jerusalem, where, in preparation for the expected siege, the king is inspecting the city’s water supply. Isaiah gives him Jehovah’s message: “Watch yourself and keep undisturbed. Do not be afraid, and do not let your heart itself be timid because of the two tail ends of these smoking logs, because of the hot anger of Rezin and Syria and the son of Remaliah.” (Isaiah 7:4) When the attackers ravaged Judah earlier, their anger was as hot as flames. Now they are merely ‘two tail ends of smoking logs.’ Ahaz need not dread Syrian King Rezin or Israelite King Pekah, son of Remaliah. Today it is similar. For centuries, Christendom’s leaders have subjected true Christians to fiery persecution. Now, though, Christendom resembles a log that is nearly burned up. Her days are numbered.

      7. Why do Isaiah’s name and that of his son give reason for hope?

      7 In Ahaz’ day, not only Isaiah’s message but also the meaning of Isaiah’s name and that of his son give hope to those trusting in Jehovah. True, Judah is in danger, but the name Isaiah, meaning “Salvation of Jehovah,” signals that Jehovah will provide deliverance. Jehovah tells Isaiah to take with him his son Shear-jashub, whose name means “A Mere Remnant Will Return.” Even when the kingdom of Judah finally falls, God will mercifully bring a remnant back to the land.