One of Isaiah’s first prophetic utterances involved one of his sons. And though the prophecy was mainly directed at the kingdom of Judah, how and where Isaiah was commanded by God to prophesy holds a precious message for each person that reads this article, no matter who they are or what they have done.

Although mainly found in the New Testament, the fatherhood of God is seen throughout the Holy Bible, the written Word of God. Sadly, though, too many people think that the one true God is their God. However, the Word of God is clear that such is not true, because each of us is a sinner. We must be redeemed by the blood of Christ to become a redeemed child of God having Eternal Life.

While God is the heavenly Father, He is also the supreme King. God was King of Israel until the children of Israel had a human king. Israel remained pretty much unified until Rehoboam, the fourth king.

Under his rule Israel split into two nations. The southern is referred to as Judah and its capitol was Jerusalem. Samaria was the capitol of the northern kingdom which is referred to as Israel.

After the split there was a short period of civil war but afterwards there was a time of “working together,” especially under Jehoshaphat about one hundred years before this. But early in Isaiah’s prophetic ministry Syria (Aram) and Israel, under King Pekah, had teamed up against Judah. Ahaz was king of Judah at that time. Isaiah’s spoken message from God to King Ahaz (recorded in Isaiah 7) was addressed in my article, Fight The Wind {1}. However, for this article we will focus upon the imagery that God told Isaiah to follow.

The prophetic imagery, which is described in Isaiah 7:3, was primarily directed at Judah, and eventually Judah and Israel together with a major fulfillment to come after Armageddon. In Isaiah 7:3 we read, “Then YHVH (The Existing One) said to Isaiah, ‘Go out now to meet Ahaz, you and your son Shear-jashub, at the end of the conduit of the upper pool, on the highway to the fuller's field,”. 

Many prophetic utterances presented to the Jews have bearing upon those who are born again in Christ. So, for the purposes of this particular message (sermon I will be preaching), Isaiah and his son will represent the true Body of Christ as well as each individual Christian. Ahaz will represent anyone who is not a true Christian, someone who is in desperate need of God in their life (which would be everyone who is not born again).

Ahaz was an evil King of Judah. 2 Kings 16:2-4 shows that one of the evil things he did was to burn his son alive as an offering to an idol. He also sacrificed and burnt incense in the high places, and on the hills, and under every green tree. Despite his wickedness, God was trying to turn Ahaz around. Isaiah and his son were being used by God to try to do that.

Isaiah was a prophet of God. Fundamentally, Holy Bible prophets proclaimed the will of God. While there is definitely the specific ministry of a prophet, all true believers are to speak forth the will of God. This is why we will consider Isaiah and his son to represent true disciples of Christ. Let us now look into Isaiah 7:3.

I. The Messenger And His God

Isaiah was born a sinner just like the rest of us. However, upon encountering the presence and holiness of God, and knowing he was damned, he confessed his sin. God mercifully forgave and purged him. See Isaiah 6:1-7 for details.

He then heard God say (verse 8), “Whom shall I send, and who will go for Us?” Immediately Isaiah responded, “Here am I. Send me!” What is happening here is something that continuously occurs to this day: God uses humans to reach humans and bring them to the living God that they might be redeemed and cleansed from sin.

Most of us heard “God is love”, which is true, but only in its context as found in the entire epistle of 1 John. However, God is predominately holy. When Isaiah had the vision of YHVH (The Existing One) he heard the groups of seraphim alternately cry out to each other, “Holy, Holy, Holy, is YHVH of hosts, . . .”. As we read all of the Holy Bible we will see that holiness is the predominate attribute of God. We also read that without holiness no one shall see God. 

But there is the mercy of God. If we recognize our need of being saved from sinfulness and we surrender to God through Christ we then can be cleansed. As the holiness of God is seen in Isaiah 6:3, the mercy of God is seen in verse 8 in God desiring to send a human to reach humans. Isaiah answered that call and was empowered to follow through.

II. The Message  

We have already dealt with the vocal message in the article, Fight The Wind {1}. Essentially Ahaz was told that the confederacy of Syria and Israel would not stand. The part of the visual where Isaiah and his son went before Ahaz should have been a warning to Ahaz of a future judgment of God where most of Judah would indeed be taken to Babylon, but a remnant would return.

That did happen, but in 70 A.D. the Jews were scattered again and it was not until our time that Israel was re-established as a geographical nation. Jews are returning there. Given that, and many other prophetic factors and warnings we will look at the visual message as found in verse 3 as it applies to our time.

Two people stood before Ahaz, viz., Isaiah and Shear-Jashub his son -- a father and son team! Isaiah means “YHVH (The Existing One) has saved”, and Shear-Jashub means “a remnant shall return”. When you think of the fact that not many nations got wiped out for more than five hundred years but later came back {2}, but after almost 2000 years Israel did, we should honestly consider Israel’s return as a miracle, a wonder. Thus, Isaiah was led by the Holy Spirit to say (Isaiah 8:18), “Behold, I and the children whom YHVH (The Existing One) has given me are for signs and wonders in Israel from YHVH (The Existing One) of hosts, who dwells on Mount Zion.”

Returning to Isaiah 7, I would say Isaiah’s name, “YHVH (The Existing One) has saved”,  is added to with an explanation of how YHVH would ultimately save, seen in verse 14, “Behold, a virgin will be with child and bear a son, and she will call His name Immanuel.” Immanuel means “God with us,” and because He took our flesh upon Himself to fully save us, when Mary gave birth to her firstborn, Who was Christ, He was named Jesus, which is “YHVH (The Existing One) is salvation”.

Salvation is in Jesus because, for one reason, as all man but all God He took the full punishment for our sin. In return, in mercy, He offers His victorious life to us. This can be had by surrendering to God through Him, forsaking sin and letting Him live through us. We are to bring others to Christ. An ultimate will be that a remnant of Israel will be saved, born again, after Armageddon. In the meantime, anyone who is saved, and those they bring to Christ, are like the father-son team of Isaiah and Shear-Jashub, for we testify to the lost that God has saved and a remnant shall return.

But the testimony is also a warning in that God will judge those who have not repented and live for Him through Christ. As stated, king Ahaz represents the lost, the unsaved. Whether they die or go to the time of Armageddon, their world, the life they enjoy, will end and they will be consigned to damnation. If we love God we will love the lost and in someway, and various ways, tell them that God has provided salvation.

III. The Mercy

The prophetic imagery continues with God telling Isaiah where to meet Ahaz: “at the end of the conduit of the upper pool, on the highway to the fuller's field.” Many times an enemy of a city would try to capture its water supply. This is what the devil and the forces of the world would want to do to true Christians. However, this will not happen if we endeavor to stay close to Christ by the power of His Holy Spirit.

Water can represent both the Holy Spirit (Titus 3:5) and the written Word (Ephesians 5:26). As water refreshes, gives life, and cleanses us physically, so does the Word of God and the Holy Spirit spiritually. The phrase, “from the upper pool”, speaks that both are from above, -- not of man but of God. Do not look to a denomination or fellowship for consistent spiritual strength. Christ has ascended, and He said of Himself in John 7:37-38, “If anyone is thirsty, let him come to Me and drink. He who believes in Me, as the Scripture said, ‘From his innermost being will flow rivers of living water.’”

The phrase, “on the highway”, speaks to the loving desire of God that every person receives His mercy to be spiritually cleansed, restored, refreshed and more. Sadly, on the great highway of earthly life, people turn away from the Fountain Of Life for various reasons. Some are satisfied with a prosperous earthly life. Others do not want the cleansing from sin that Christ brings, because they love themselves more than God and prefer to hold to their sin instead of the nail scarred hand of Christ.

The highway would bring the people by the fuller’s field, the area where garments were washed and often bleached by the sun. And so the prophetic imagery speaks to the fact that the finished work of Christ would wash those who truly trust Him from sin and impurities. If Christ, the incarnate Word, is then inside of us, His Spirit and the written Word will wash us from sins and impurities.

Like many of us, some ancients not only wanted their garments washed but also brightened up a bit. So, after washing they would stretch them out in sunlight. And, after being washed by the blood of Christ we ought to bathe in His Sonlight. We ought to spend much time in His written Word, and in worship and adoration of Him.

In so doing, a true disciple grows into a godly spiritual dad or mom to bring more into the body of Christ. This process keeps on going until the ultimate fulfillment of the prophetic imagery of Isaiah 7:3, where the final chapter of Zechariah is fulfilled. After Armageddon there will be a remnant of Jews that will sincerely make Christ their Savior and King. I am of the opinion that Isaiah 53 will be the remnant’s “sinner’s prayer”. They will pray that as the Spirit of Grace and Supplication is poured upon them from above (Zechariah 12:10), “I will pour out on the house of David and on the inhabitants of Jerusalem, the Spirit of grace and of supplication, so that they will look on Me whom they have pierced; and they will mourn for Him, as one mourns for an only son, and they will weep bitterly over Him like the bitter weeping over a firstborn.”

And then, oh hallelujah, a Fountain opens up (Zechariah 13:1), “In that day a fountain will be opened for the house of David and for the inhabitants of Jerusalem, for sin and for impurity.” There, again, in that last phrase we see spiritual cleansing and bleaching. And if you have not been truly cleansed from your sins and iniquity these blessings await you if you repent and truly turn to God through Christ.

For those that have truly surrendered to God through Christ let us endeavor to project the prophetic imagery that Messiah will soon return, and that this world and its desires are passing away.

Notes: 

{1} Please see Fight The Wind at http://holybibletreasures.expertscolumn.com/article/fight-wind .

{2} I actually cannot think of one, but if you know of one, please contact me!

This article was written in the form of a sermon (message) outline with comments. God willing by July 30, 2018 (hopefully much sooner), you should be able to hear the actual message (sermon) by selecting a link at http://www.sapphirestreams.com/life/audioM.html#M504 .

Unless otherwise noted all Holy Scripture is from the New American Standard Bible changing LORD to YHVH as it rightly should be when the text so indicates and adding “(The Existing One)” to readily express the meaning of His Name without making repeated explanations in articles. * = For other versions the spelling of some words is updated for our time in addition to changing LORD to YHVH as it rightly should be when the text so indicates.

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