How does Hebrews 2:13 connect with Isaiah's prophecies about Jesus? Opening the Door to Hebrews 2 • Hebrews 2 magnifies Christ’s full identification with humanity. • The writer strings together Old Testament texts to prove that Jesus, the eternal Son, willingly shared flesh and blood to redeem us (Hebrews 2:14). • Hebrews 2:13 quotes Isaiah 8 twice to show that this identification had been foretold centuries earlier. Hebrews 2:13 on the Page “And again: ‘I will put My trust in Him.’ And again: ‘Here am I, and the children God has given Me.’” Looking Back to Isaiah 8 • Isaiah 8:17: “I will wait for the LORD… I will put my trust in Him.” • Isaiah 8:18: “Behold, I and the children whom the LORD has given me are signs and symbols in Israel…” • Isaiah first spoke these words about his own family during a dark national crisis, yet the Spirit intended them ultimately for the Messiah and His people. Prophetic Echo #1: The Trusting Son • Isaiah waited on the LORD amid looming Assyrian invasion. • Jesus, far greater than Isaiah, entered a world overshadowed by sin and death. • He repeatedly declared His reliance on the Father (John 5:19; 8:28; 12:49). • Hebrews quotes Isaiah 8:17 to underscore that Messiah’s perfect faith was predicted and fulfilled literally in Jesus. Prophetic Echo #2: The Gifted Children • Isaiah and his literal sons—Shear-jashub and Maher-shalal-hash-baz—were living “signs.” • Hebrews applies Isaiah 8:18 to Jesus and those “made holy” through Him (Hebrews 2:11). • The Father has “given” believers to the Son (John 17:6, 24). • Our shared humanity and new birth bind us forever to Christ, confirming Isaiah’s prophecy in a fuller, spiritual sense. How Isaiah’s Portrait Blossoms in Hebrews • Shared flesh and blood (Isaiah 7:14 ➜ Hebrews 2:14). • Child-King titles (Isaiah 9:6 ➜ Hebrews 1:8). • Root from Jesse bringing rest (Isaiah 11:10 ➜ Hebrews 4:9). • Suffering Servant tasting death for many (Isaiah 53 ➜ Hebrews 2:9). • In every case, the literal words of Isaiah laid down the framework that Hebrews now unveils in Christ. Why These Connections Matter • They verify that Scripture’s prophecies are exact and reliable. • They highlight Jesus’ genuine humanity—He trusted, He waited, He calls us brothers and sisters. • They assure us that, since we are His “children,” He stands with us before the Father, having broken the power of death (Hebrews 2:14-15). • They invite us to echo His trust, resting in the same faithful God who kept His word from Isaiah’s day to ours. |
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