This post is Day 3 in a series of studies about “Babies and Children”. I strongly suggest you begin with the introduction to this study, please click here to read it.

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Babies and Children – Day 3

The name Isaiah was to give his child was a message to the Israelites. Quick to plunder, swift to spoil. The natural view of the situation was to panic, and worry about war and everything that went with it. But God was reassuring His people that He was still there.

Isaiah 8:3-4

Then I made love to the prophetess, and she conceived and gave birth to a son. And The Lord said to me, “Name him Maher-Shalal-Hash-Baz. Before the boy knows how to say “my father” or “my mother” the wealth of Damascus and the plunder of Samaria will be carried of by the King of Assyria”.

The Thought

How many of us reading this today have called our children such a complicated name?

How many people today have chosen the names of their children because of what they mean? Do we listen to the Lord when choosing names for our children?

There are many times in the Old Testament when God told a person what they must name their child. We will look at others later this month: Hosea 1:6 (Day 4), Hosea 1:9 (Day 13), 1 Chronicles 4:8 (Day 15).

The name Isaiah was to give his child was a message to the Israelites. The meaning of Maher-Shalal-Hash-Baz is “quick to the plunder, swift to the spoil”, a message to the Israelites that they would suddenly win the ongoing conflict with Assyria which was the superpower of their day.

The natural view of the situation was to panic, and worry about war and everything that went with it. But God was reassuring His people that He was still there.

Action

Read Isaiah 8 and be encouraged.

Pray that God will reassure His people today that they will win whatever conflict they are involved in. The war in the Holy Land is continuing and there have been many casualties. Pray for those who grieve and those who are injured.

Pray for babies born in the war-torn areas of the world, for Jesus to protect them from trauma.

Sometimes there are things to learn before the battle can be won. Ask Him to show you the signs of a change in circumstances for the war torn areas of the world.

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