Isa 8:1 Moreover the LORD said unto me, Take thee a great roll, and write in it with a man's pen concerning Mahershalalhashbaz.

In Isaiah 7, God assured Ahaz, king of Judah, that he needed not be afraid of the combined forces of Syria and Israel for their invasion would not materialise (Isaiah 7:7). Now, in Isaiah 8, God commanded Isaiah to go write on a tablet concerning one who will be called "Maher-shalal-hash-baz" (v.1). Isaiah’s wife conceived and bore a son. God instructed Isaiah to name the son, “Mahershalalhashbaz” (v.3). By the way, Mahershalalhashbaz is the longest word in the Bible. “Mahershalalhashbaz” means “plunder speeds, and spoil hastens”. This is because: “For before the child shall have knowledge to cry, My father, and my mother, the riches of Damascus and the spoil of Samaria shall be taken away before the king of Assyria “ (v.4). “Mahershalalhashbaz” reveals the swiftness in which Assyria is going to do to these two places, Damascus and Samaria. The message of Mahershalalhashbaz to stubborn King Ahaz also contains lessons for us today: 1. Trust In God. Ahaz froze at the thought of two kings attacking his kingdom. Isaiah told him to trust in God. Ahaz chose to trust in the chariots of Assyria. You may say it was Ahaz who bribed the king of Assyria to destroy Damascus (2 Kings 16:8-10). But kingdoms do not rise and fall without God’s permission (Daniel 4:17). Therefore, no matter how terrifying our enemies may seem to be, or how big our problems are, do not fear them; rather, trust in God, who is in complete control: “Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me” (Psalm 23:4). 2. Nothing in this life lasts forever, not even our troubles. Mahershalalhashbaz” means “plunder speeds, and spoil hastens”. God will take away our troubles.  While we are going through our troubles, God is already at work removing them one by one. He has promised: “I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee” (Hebrews 13:5). 3. Our possessions don’t last forever. The Scriptures says that this earth will be burned up (2 Peter 3:10). Hence, let us have a proper attitude towards our possessions. Peter asked: “Seeing then that all these things shall be dissolved, what manner of persons ought ye to be in all holy conversation and godliness, Looking for and hasting unto the coming of the day of God” (2 Peter 3:11, 12a). He means, since it is an undoubted truth that this world will pass away, our great interests should be in another world. We should be sober, humble, and prayerful, preparing our souls for the next world. 4. We will pass away. James says life is like “a vapour, that appeareth for a little time, and then vanisheth away” (James 4:14). Life is short and it can go away very swiftly. Blessed are those who die a ripe old age. But daily, people, young and not so young, die suddenly. Mahershalalhashbaz reminds us that our lives can be taken away from us at any moment. I’m sure you have known someone in your life that has his/her life cut short unexpectedly. Life is like a vapour. Mahershalalhashbaz reminds us that we can be called to meet God at any moment and so we must be prepared for that day always (Amos 4:12). In this world, nothing is as certain as death: “And as it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment” (Hebrews 9:27). Nothing lasts forever. Death is certain and judgment is swift thereon. Let us be prepared to meet our God!