Isaiah was given two boys from the LORD of hosts. They were for signs and wonders in Israel in so much as their names foretold what Christ Jesus the Lord would accomplish. One son's name is found in Isaiah 7: 3: "Sherjazzub." His name means "the remanant shall return." The other son's name is found in Isaiah 8: 1: "Mahershallhashbaz." It means "in making speed to the spoil, he haseneth the prey." As if to spell it out to us that these two sons pointed to Christ Jesus, in the middle of declaring their names, the LORD said in Isaiah 7: 14: Therefore the Lord himself shall give you a sign; Behold, a virgin shall conceive, and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel.

In Christ Jesus, God is with his elect people. God came to us and took upon him flesh and gave himself a ransom for many. Because of his work, God's elect remnant shall return to God. Likewise, in making speed to the spoil he haseneth the prey. In Isaiah 8: 14, Christ is said to be the bait and the trap whereby the enemies of God shall...be snared (baited) and be taken (trapped). What does that mean?

First, understand that "spoils" are the trophies taken from the enemy by the winning army. The children given to the Son of God by God the Father in eternity are the spoils. He made great speed to take the children promised him. Secondly, the "prey" is the one who is being attacked. Satan and his servants were the prey who held the son's of God captive. As Christ the Lord made speed to save the children given him by God, Christ hastened Satan and his children to their own destruction.

It began right here in Isaiah 8. See Isaiah 8: 3, 4: Before Isaiah's son was old enough to say, "Momma and Dadda", the LORD of hosts sent the king of Assyria, which began the destruction of both the houses of Israel. Verse 8, says he shall also pass through Judah. King Ahaz thought he had saved himself by pledging allegiance to the enemy of God but by doing so, he destroyed himself. Be sure you do not make the same mistake.

Remember, the king of Assyria was under the power of the devil. He hated God and he hated those who went by the name of Israel just as Satan does. But both the king of Assyria with all the evil murder and destruction he waged, like the devil himself, were under the power of God Almighty. The name "LORD of hosts" means God rules everything. This does not make God the author of sin. The king of Assyria did the devil's bidding. Satan is the author of sin. Yet, if anything happens out of God's control then God ceases to be God (Pr 16: 4; Ps 103:19; 115:3.) If you know your own depravity you are glad this is the case.

Now, behold the infinite wisdom and power of God. In taking down the hedge around the nation Israel, allowing the devil to devour them through the king of Assyria, God's council to destroy the power of the devil and deliver his children through Christ Jesus was being carried out. By using this king who is directly under the devil's power, the LORD tells us the mind that was in the devil as he thought he had done this himself and therefore was emboldened to do even more. (Read Isaiah 10: 5, 7, 11, 13-15.) Those who disagree that the LORD would do such a thing to men, fail to see that this was divine judgment upon a people who rejected God. Will God be wrong for casting unbelievers into hell? Why then is he wrong for manifesting his righteous judgment on earth? (Ro 3: 5-8.)

Here is the key to seeing the infinite wisdom of God in all this. Isaiah 10: 12: Wherefore it shall come to pass, that when the Lord hath performed his whole work upon mount Zion and on Jerusalem, I will punish the fruit of the stout heart of the king of Assyria, and the glory of his high looks. The message is clear, all the evil that was (and is) coming to pass was under the direct control of God, it was accomplishing his purpose and would culminate in the destruction of the enemy and deliverance of God's elect. That is wisdom!

What is his whole work upon Mt. Zion? It is the work of redemption. The LORD sent forth his Son. As Satan beheld Christ the Bait, Satan and his seed went about as soon as he was born--hastening--to put him to death. Throughout the life of Christ the ungodly sought to kill him. The old serpent and his servants thought the prey was God's people and his Son. His thoughts were thoughts of pride, of accomplishment by his own hand. Are these your thoughts? Well, this was his undoing and it shall be yours as well.

The truth is, the devil was the prey. He hastened after the bait till Christ allowed himself to be put up on the cross--and there was the trap; the trap whereby the Lord put away the sin of his people and perfected them forever. Sin was the devils only power but Christ left him with nothing with which to accuse the brethren. Therein he was snared and taken, all according to the predetermined council of God. Acts 4: 27: For of a truth against thy holy child Jesus, whom thou hast anointed, both Herod, and Pontius Pilate, with the Gentiles, and the people of Israel, were gathered together, 28: For to do whatsoever thy hand and thy counsel determined before to be done.

When was this determined? The LORD God clearly told Satan way back in the garden that this is how he would be destroyed. Genesis 3: 14: And the LORD God said unto the serpent, Because thou hast done this, thou art cursed above all cattle, and above every beast of the field; upon thy belly shalt thou go, and dust shalt thou eat all the days of thy life: 15: And I will put enmity between thee and the woman, and between thy seed and her seed; it shall bruise thy head, and thou shalt bruise his heel.

The Lord Jesus Christ declared this is what he was going to the cross to do and did. (Jo 12: 31, 32; He 2: 14, 15; Col 2:15.) When he ascended the Lord Jesus took the spoils and sent his preachers to declare the work he accomplished. Through his word, he enters in each one of his redeemed and crushes the serpents power in us by creating us in newness of life (Ps 68: 18; Acts 26:18; I Timothy 2: 24-26.) This work is performed when the Holy Spirit declares in the new man that judgment is accomplished, our sin is put away, we are complete in Christ--Christ has bound the strong man (John 16: 7-11; Mr 3: 27.) Through the gospel of Christ, we are joined to Christ through faith as we behold that he has made us more than conquerors through him that loved us. (Is 53: 12; Is 10: 16-27; Is 9: 3, 4.)

Galatians 5:1: Stand fast therefore in the liberty wherewith Christ hath made us free, and be not entangled again with the yoke of bondage.

Isaiah 8: 12: Say ye not, A confederacy, to all them to whom this people shall say, A confederacy; neither fear ye their fear, nor be afraid. 13: Sanctify the LORD of hosts himself; and let him be your fear, and let him be your dread. 14: And he shall be for a sanctuary