What does Isaiah 10:23 mean?
Isaiah's prophecy in these verses is both hopeful and devastating (Isaiah 10:20–22). The good news for the readers of his day was that Israel would not be wiped off the map by the judgement of the Lord. Though he does not mention them by name, neither the Assyrians or the Babylonians will end Israel as a people or as a nation. A remnant of Israelites will survive and return to trust in the Lord once more (Isaiah 10:20).The solemn news, however, is that only a fraction of the Israelites will be saved. The vast majority will be destroyed or carried off into captivity. This will happen first by the Assyrians, and later by Babylon. Israel has been faithless. The people have broken their covenant with the Lord. The destruction has already been decreed and announced. The Lord of Hosts will carry it out. There is no stopping what the Lord has willed.