Isaiah 10:20 says, And it shall come to pass in that day, that the remnant of Israel, and such as are escaped of the house of Jacob, shall no more again stay upon him that smote them; but shall stay upon the Lord, the Holy One of Israel, in truth. Isaiah said there was coming a day when the remnant of descendants of Jacob would no longer be ruled by those who had defeated them, but they would be ruled by God and rest under His authority and power. I believe that those who have accepted Jesus Christ as their personal Savior and Lord are a part of the remnant that will one day spend their lives with God forever. Matthew Henry seems to imply that we must work to make sure we are part of that remnant, but I believe that faith in Jesus Christ alone makes us a part. We then do what God calls us to do, not to try and make sure we are a part of the remnant in God’s view, but because we are thankful that He has made us a part by our faith in His only begotten Son, Jesus Christ, who lived, died, and rose again to make salvation possible.
Verse twenty-one adds, The remnant shall return, even the remnant of Jacob, unto the mighty God. This remnant though they were few in numbers, would return to God. Isaiah was telling them that they were still a part of God’s people. Sometimes, we may feel alone in serving God, but He will always have at least a remnant that is true to Him, and we as followers of Christ will always be a part of that remnant.
Verse twenty-two continues, For though thy people Israel be as the sand of the sea, yet a remnant of them shall return: the consumption decreed shall overflow with righteousness. Isaiah reminded them once again that the people of Israel had once been as numerous as the sand of the sea, but now though they were reduced to a very few, they should overflow with righteousness. We may not be as numerous as Christians as we once were when compared to the overall number of people in the world, but we are still to overflow with righteousness.
Verse twenty-three concludes, For the Lord God of hosts shall make a consumption, even determined, in the midst of all the land. Matthew Henry says this consumption or destruction of the people of Israel who had turned away from Him would come from God Himself. It doesn’t matter what the world may do to us as Christians, but it only matters that we remain true to God. He will one day send all those who don’t away to everlasting destruction, even some who had professed to be Christians but were only so in name only.
Verse twenty-four states, Therefore thus saith the Lord God of hosts, O my people that dwellest in Zion, be not afraid of the Assyrian: he shall smite thee with a rod, and shall lift up his staff against thee, after the manner of Egypt.
Verse twenty-five states, For yet a very little while, and the indignation shall cease, and mine anger in their destruction. Isaiah said that it wouldn’t be long before the servitude of Israel to Assyria would end which happened because God was angry at their actions. God will always be angry at sin, but the indignation that it brings to people can end as soon as they accept Jesus Christ as their Savior and Lord. If we are a Christian, and we have strayed away from God, He is going to be angry at the sin in our lives also, but it only has to last until we repent and start to obey Him again.
Verse twenty-six adds, And the Lord of hosts shall stir up a scourge for him according to the slaughter of Midian at the rock of Oreb: and as his rod was upon the sea, so shall he lift it up after the manner of Egypt. Isaiah said God was about to punish Sennacherib as He had punished Midian, which had occurred by an invisible hand according to Matthew Henry and as He had destroyed Egypt when the people of Israel were set free. God had allowed Assyria to defeat His people because they had nearly all turned against Him, but he was about to destroy Assyria and restore those people of Israel who had remained true to Him to their rightful place. We as followers of Christ may suffer in the world today because too many who call themselves God’s people haven't accepted His gift of salvation and work for their own glory instead of for His glory, but one day, we will be called to our rightful place where all our enemies will be defeated.
Verse twenty-seven continues, And it shall come to pass in that day, that his burden shall be taken away from off thy shoulder, and his yoke from off thy neck, and the yoke shall be destroyed because of the anointing. Isaiah said that when that day of restoration came, that all the power of Assyria would be lifted, as the fear of them would no longer be on the people of Israel. When we accept Jesus Christ as our personal Savior and Lord, all our enemies are defeated, and we don’t need to fear them anymore. God has already given us the victory and all we have to do is rest safely in His hands by faith.
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