The Book of Isaiah is full of prophecy and insights. As discussed earlier, the sixty-six chapters of Isaiah present the form of the sixty-six books of the Bible. The first thirty-nine chapters are known as the Book of Judgement and correspond to the thirty-nine books of the Old Testament. Chapters forty through sixty-six, twenty-seven in all, are known as the Book of Comfort and correspond to the twenty-seven books of the New Testament. (Please see my lesson on The Book of Isaiah.)

The chapters of Isaiah also display Torah designs. You will recall that the Torah is the first five books of the Old Testament and a Torah design follows the theme of these books. (Please see Torah Designs in the Bible.)

Chapters thirty-six through forty of Isaiah form a fascinating Torah design. Chapter thirty-six is a Genesis chapter and the theme is the sin of man. This chapter describes the assault on Judah by the Assyrian king, Sennacherib. Sennacherib, in his arrogance, challenges the One and Only God. Sennacherib places himself above God. This is what Satan wishes to do and it all started in the Garden, in Genesis.

Chapter thirty-seven is an Exodus chapter and the theme is deliverance. The Lord delivered the Children of Israel from slavery in Egypt. This chapter describes the prayer of King Hezekiah and the deliverance of the City of Jerusalem.

Chapter thirty-eight is a Leviticus chapter and the theme is sanctification or setting apart. The Levites were set apart for service to the Lord. In this chapter we find that Hezekiah became ill, and was healed with a poultice of figs. A more complete description of his illness is found in Second Kings 20:1-11. Here King Hezekiah is a type of the nation Israel and was healed on the third day. This foreshadows the setting aside (and healing) of Israel in the latter days (see Hosea 6:1-2).

Chapter thirty-nine is a Numbers chapter and the theme is testing or the wilderness march. Numbers tells of the forty years of wandering and testing in the wilderness. In this chapter it is prophesied that Babylon will come against Judah and take everything they have. It is a foreshadow of commercial Babylon, which is one of the forces against Israel during the Tribulation (see Revelation chapter 18). Could this have something to do with oil?

Chapter forty is a Deuteronomy chapter and the theme is the establishment of the Kingdom. The Book of Deuteronomy describes the Children of Israel entering the Promised Land. Chapter forty is also the beginning of the Book of Comfort. Isaiah chapter forty describes the coming of the Messiah. It is easy to see from our historical perspective that this chapter is a prophecy about Jesus. But it is also a foreshadow of His Second Coming and the ushering in of the Kingdom Age.

These chapters tell the story of a future event when the kings of Assyria and Babylon (who may represent a group of nations) come against Israel in the last days and how Israel will be delivered. They describe how the Lord will heal Israel and will comfort in His Kingdom those who love Him and honor Him. I look forward to that day. Maranatha!