“Thus saith the Lord GOD [ äåäé ] ... within threescore and five years [735-670 BC] shall Ephraim be broken, that it be not a people. ... If ye will not believe, surely ye shall not be established. ... Hear ye now, O House of David ... the Lord Himself shall give you a sign; Behold, a virgin shall conceive, and bear a son, and shall call His name Immanuel. [But before then] the land ... shall be forsaken of both her kings” (Isaiah 7:7–16, cf Matthew 1:20–23).
Israel sifted among the nations Within 65 years the 10-tribed House of Israel would be not a people (1:9). Taken captive into Assyria, they migrated (2 Esdras 13:40–45) beyond Euphrates into Asia Minor, “an immense multitude not to be estimated by numbers” (Josephus XI,5,2, cf 1:10). “For, lo, I will command, and I will sift the House of Israel among all nations, like as corn is sifted in a sieve, yet shall not the least grain fall upon the earth” (Amos 9:9, cf Jeremiah 31:33–37). These lost sheep of the House of Israel were the Christians to whom Peter and Paul wrote (1 Peter 1:1, Gal 1:2).
Israel turns to Christ “Among the tribes of Israel have I made known that which shall surely be” (v9, cf Amos 3:7). “I will bring the blind by a way that they knew not; I will lead them in paths that they have not known. ... [I will] not forsake them” (Isaiah 42:16). “This people have I formed for Myself; they shall shew forth My praise” (Isaiah 43:21, cf 1 Peter 2:9). In the lands of their dispersion—the islands and coastlands—they would be brought into the New Covenant and remarried to Christ (Hebrews 8:10). In the last days (Genesis 49:1) Ephraim–Israel would become the sons of God, Christians! (1:10). But Judah, through whom came Messiah, would remain in unbelief (John 1:11). Note: Hebrew ç⇐éظîOElig Messiah = Greek CristoV Christos, anointed one.
“I will go and return to My place, till they acknowledge their offence, and seek My face: in their affliction they will seek Me early [ øç⇐ØOElig shachar = seek earnestly]” (v15). “Hath God cast away His people? God forbid. ... God hath not cast away His people which He foreknew” (Romans 11:1–2, 25, cf Genesis 48:19). The lineal seed of the old House of Israel, blind to their identity, were to become the nucleus of the new Israel, the Church of God, into which all might enter through faith in the Lord Jesus Christ (Galatians 3:26–29).
Proof of inspiration of Scripture
“For I am God, and there is none else; I am God, and there is none like Me, declaring the end from the beginning, and from ancient times the things that are not yet done, saying, My counsel shall stand, and I will do all My pleasure. ... I have spoken it, I will also bring it to pass; I have purposed it, I will also do it” (Isaiah 46:9–11). The fulfilment of prophecy is the surest proof of the inspiration of scripture.
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