Bnei Yisrael had been sinning. They hadn't believed that they were doing anything wrong. They were bringing Korbanot, they were following in the ways of Hashem, and they were not doing Avodah Zarah. There was a problem though, Yeravam had built Bamot, to prevent Bnei Yisrael from going back to Yisrael. Bnei Yisrael had been sacrificing onlt to Hashem on the Bamot. Since the Beit Hamikdash had just been built, and its main purpose was to be a special place to sacrifice to Hashem, the sin was terrible because they were doing something completely against Hashem. When Yishayahu came and told them that they needed to change their ways, they laughed in his face and didn't believe him. Bnei Yisrael were in no way following Ben adam l'chavero. They were giving korbanot to Hashem, but they lacked morality.
Bnei Yisrael had many sins. They didn't recognize that Hashem is in control. They became corrupt and completely left Hashem. They lacked tzedek and mishpat. They were unethical in business-diluted wire and silver-they cheated their customers. The downtrodden in society were being treated badly. The continued in their evil ways, even after they were told to stop. The judges were taking bribes.The women were being haughty, shallow, and immodest. The ruling class was corrupt. Bnei Yisrael were hedonistic and only cared for their own pleasures. The ruling class came and took everything from the poor and left the poor with nothing.
Bnei Yisrael's sins came to a point where there was no more chance to repent. The only thing that had to be done was for them to be punished. They were told so many times to fix their ways but they turned down every single chance they got. Yishayahu got a nevuah from Hashem giving him a new mission-that mission was for all of Bnei Yisrael to be destroyed except for 1/10 of them. The only way for them to be some-what forgiven is to go through pain and there was no way to change that or fix their ways any longer. Bnei Yisrael had gone too far without listening and they needed to be punished.
Yishayahu has three sons, each of there names is another sign, reminding us something different. His first son's name is Sha'arey Shuv which means the remnant shall return. His second child's name is Imanuel, meaning Hashem is with us. His last child is named Maher Shlal Chash Baz, meaning speed the spoils, hasten the booty. His first child is reminding us about the remnant. The 10% of Bnei Yisrael that will remain after they are finished being punished. His second child is reminding us that Hashem is always there and He is always with us. That Hashem is in control and Achaz can deny it all he wants but he can't change it. Yehayahu's last child is a reminder that war will be coming quickly and they will be conquered.
In History class we read an excerpt from the story, The Epic of Gilgamesh. In the Mesopotamian culture they would do a lot for their gods and their main focus of life revolved around their gods. In the story Gilgamesh hears from a man that heard a secret from the gods that there is this plant that would give you immortal life. Gilgamesh went to touch this plant that had thorns and was sharp and painful and that is what he had to do to be close to his gods. In the end of the story Gilgamesh didn't receive the immortal life that he was hoping for. I connect this with what we have recently learned, because the only way left for Bnei Yisrael to be closer to Hashem was through pain. Bnei Yisrael were not necessarily striving to be really close to Hashem, but now their only option to connect with Him was through pain. Bnei Yisrael had many options to repent but they chose not to. This teaches us that you cannot just sit there and hope for Hashem to help you, but have to actually try and He will help lead you in the right direction.
Yasher Koach!
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