When God calls a man to serve Him in some special way, it soon becomes apparent that the call affects the entire family. We tend to forget that the prophets were family men. A second son is born to Isaiah’s wife at the start of chapter 8. Like his brother Shear-Jashub (“a remnant shall return”), the name Maher-shalal-hash-baz (“quick-pickings-easy-prey” or “quickly to the plunder”) also had prophetic significance. Every time their mother went outside to call these boys home for dinner, she was witnessing to the whole neighborhood! The message was plain: God’s people will soon be taken captive by the enemy, but the LORD will be with them and will not utterly forsake them (v 1-4). Perhaps this younger son went by the nickname “Immanuel” (“God with us,” 7:14), signifying a promise ultimately fulfilled in Jesus. Despite the assurance of God’s presence in their crisis, the people of Judah did not believe. They rejected the gentle waters of God’s peace and protection (“Shiloah”), gloating instead over the defeat of Israel and Syria by the mighty Assyrian empire. But this empire will soon overflow into Judah like the devastating floodwaters of the Euphrates River. Little Judah will struggle to keep her head above the water, but God’s promise of the coming Immanuel stands firm (v 5-8). Having uttered the name of Immanuel, Isaiah is immediately strengthened. With cheerful defiance, he dares any foe to sound their battle cry and come against the LORD’s people. God’s presence is a source of power. Those who oppose Him will come to nothing; all who believe in Him will prevail (v 9-10). So the people of God are called not to be misled by the panic sweeping other people away. We should not be rattled by the dramatic news of the day or carried away with the latest conspiracy theories. Our God is more real than any threat, real or imaginary. It is He alone we must reverently fear. Others may stumble over Him, but we must build our lives on Him (v 11-15). However events might unfold during his lifetime, Isaiah commits himself to waiting on the LORD and trusting in His Word. His faith makes him and his family a prophetic presence in their generation (v 16-18). Yet sadly, the unbelieving majority cling to their superstitions as days grow dark and gloomy. Raging at the true God, as if He has let them down, they abandon the source of truth. And they are left with no answers, no guidance, no light, no hope. So the prophet points them to the Scriptures as the only safe and reliable guide and standard: “To the teaching and to the testimony!” (v 19-22). For further meditation: