Amos and Hosea interpreted national and international events as being under the control of God whose lordship was not only over Israel and Judah but over all nations. In the prophecy of Isaiah, historical events are even more clearly reflected and interpreted. Isaiah is God's spokes-man to King Ahaz as Judah is threatened by Israel and Syria in 734 B.C and to King Hezekiah as the Assyrians besiege Jerusalem in 701 B.C. Isaiah speaks of God as whistling to the Egyptians to come like flies and to the Assyrians to come as bees to cover the land (7: 18-19). He describes Assyria as a barber hired by God to shave the hair and beards of the people of Judah (7: 20). He speaks of the Lord bringing the emperor of Assyria and his forces to attack Judah (8: 7-8). There is a prophecy of the destruction of Israel, the northern kingdom, in 9:8-21: 'The LORD has stirred up their enemies to attack them' (9: 11). In Isaiah 10, Assyria is described as a club or stick used by God to punish those with whom God is angry, but the punishment of Assyria for its arrogance and ignorance of God is also prophesied.

What is Isaiah affirming in such oracles? He is affirming that there is a divine plan and aim in the events which make up history. Events do not 'just happen'. The goal of history is the manifestation of God's might and power, goodness and holiness', to all the nations. The establishment of the rule of God or the Kingdom of God, is the goal towards which history moves. There is a beautiful poem in chapter 35 in which the coming of God's rule on the earth is described. Another beautiful poem in 11: 1-9 connects with the idea of the coming rule of God on the earth, and describes the peace that will be seen when the righteous descendant of David rules according to the will of God.