Moab… Sin, Pride and Salvation
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Isaiah
17. An
expository study of Isaiah, chapters 15 and 16
A little history of Moab
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| A close study of this map will show you most of the places mentioned in Isaiah 15 and 16. Click for close-up |
Moab was born
to Lot’s oldest daughter as a direct result of the influence of Sodom and
Gomorrah over his family. Moab was conceived shortly after they escaped from
the judgment of God upon those cities. They fled to a small town in the valley,
Zoar, but at a distance from the fire and brimstone, and then, for some reason,
went to live in a cave in the mountains. The mother was killed, when she looked
back at all they were leaving behind, and the two daughters were left.
There is a
great, but disturbing, lesson to be learned from this account: You cannot
choose to live in the middle of perversion without having it affect your life. Not
only was homosexuality an acceptable sexual alternative in Sodom, but we can be
sure, because of its presence, that there were many other perversions, as well.
Perhaps as Lot’s daughters mixed and mingled with the Sodomite girls, they
heard many stories of incestuous relationships. We can then understand the
source of their evil plan to make their father drunk and then each conceive a
child by him. We might also see why Lot allowed himself to drink, but in his
stupor, he was not aware of having a part in incest (Ge.19:17-38).
This was the
background of the Moabites. The clan grew and multiplied and became an
idolatrous nation on the eastern side of the Dead Sea, which is today, Jordan.
Edom (from the offspring of Esau) was to the south and to the north was the
territory of the descendants of Moab’s younger brother, Ammon. Sharing the
northern border on the west was the Israelite tribe of Reuben.
It was the
king of Moab, who hired Balaam to curse the children of Israel (Numbers,
chapters 22-25) and there is where Moses overlooked the Promised Land and then
died (Dt.34:5). The Moabites were enemies of Israel and they were refused
entrance among the congregation of Israel forever (Dt.23:3). Yet a Moabite
woman, Ruth, became the great-grandmother of King David, a wonderful story of
love, acceptance and the grace of God.
Chapter 15
Moabite lament
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| Click for large view. Notice places visible from Nebo. |
The peculiar
sound of lament was a howl… a prolonged, unnatural shriek. In the manner of
mourning of the ancient middle-east, with head and beard shaved and clothed in
sackcloth, the cries could be heard from the high places, even from Mt. Nebo,
in the surrounding towns. The beard of the ancient men was a matter of great pride,
and so the depth of grief was shown especially by shaving the beard (see, for
instance 2 Sam.10:5). Nebo was the site, where the Moabites worshipped their
principal god, Chemosh. “Moab will be
ashamed of Chemosh” (Jer.48:13; see all of Jeremiah 48, as a parallel account
of the destruction of Moab.) They wept, then, because their religion had failed
them and their spirit, as well as their heads and faces, had become bare. Everywhere,
the entire population grieved; Moab had been devastated.
Isaiah cries
The prophecy
is a burden and the prophet cries, as he watches the people, young and old,
fleeing on the highways, leaving all that they know, their homeland and their homes
behind. When judgment falls, even when it falls on an enemy, it causes no joy
to the one, who lives close enough to the heart of God to hear His voice (v.5;
Jeremiah also grieves for Moab… Jer.48:31). The fugitives are running far to
the south to Zoar, on the southern border, where Lot fled from Sodom and
Gommorah. Finding no safety there, they climb onto the mountains (As Lot?
Horoniam is near caves.).
The attack came
from the north and the only escape was to the south. Either by the effects of
war or by natural causes, farther north there was a dearth covering the
landscape (v.6), and the people abandoned it, carrying with them all that they were
able (v.7). So from this area of Nimrim, the people also fled to the south to
the Valley of Willows or the Arabian Valley. Earlier we read of northern
cities, but now Eglaim was south of the capital of Ar and Beer-elim is on the
eastern border: “The cry of distress has
gone around the territory of Moab” (v.8), from north to south, entering
into every part of this mountainous land. Beer-elim may have been the well that
Israel sang to (Num.21:14-18).
The Arnon River
carried the blood of multiplied Moabite warriors, slain in battle. God will add
to the calamities of war in His judgment upon Moab. We read in the Old
Testament of wild animals, which abounded in the Middle East in those times and
were one of the great causes for fear among the people. Now, those who left the
cities, targeted by the invaders, to find refuge in the country, were attacked
by beasts (v.9).
Chapter 16
Salvation is offered
God gave His
word and it went out and spread over the lands. Is
there a God-fearing soul in Moab like Ruth or as in Jericho, is there one, who
trembles at the word of the Lord? Then let that one flee the land of
destruction to the God of Israel for salvation. Following the eye of the
prophet, they can escape the worst of the devastation and know in what
direction they can proceed. He is merciful and mighty to save. He has exalted
His mercy over all His works.
This word came
to the Moabite refugees, who had arrived south of their land into Edom (v.1
This also is part of modern-day Jordan.). To this day, the word of salvation
reaches to those in this condition, far from their familiar settings and
people, abandoned by their idols. The Moabites had come near to the influence
of the Hebrews and the God of Creation. He is the God, who is approached by a
sacrificial lamb. They were to send
their tribute lamb from Sela or Petra, the amazing fortress carved out of rock,
founded by the Edomites, at the southern end of the valley of the Dead Sea. It
was re-discovered in 1812 by a Swiss explorer.
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| Sela or Petra... city carved from the rock. |
Here, the
surviving Moabites had found shelter in the rock and from here they were to
take the next step; they are to reach out to the God, who is worshipped by the
Jews on Mount Zion (v.2). What a wonderful book is this “Gospel” of Isaiah! The
Moabites were invited to be grafted into the trunk of the prophets and
patriarchs, in order to find continued protection and help in their time of
exile. They were to obey the Word and escape the judgments written in the book!
Here we get a
different picture from the mourning populace of the last chapter. In this one,
we hear a desperate cry for help. You have probably observed the little bird,
which has fallen from its nest. It is an object of compassion in its
defenseless, flightless state. It seems hopeless; some predator will surely
find and kill it. “The daughters of Moab
will be at the fords of the Arnon. Give us advice, make a decision; cast your
shadow like night at high noon; hide the outcasts, do not betray the fugitive” (v.2,
3). This is what we now see and
hear. They are ready to cross the river and are begging for counsel. “We need a
hiding place; please, do not turn your back on us. We are ready to listen; show
us the way of salvation!”
There can be
no doubt now that Isaiah has transferred us again into the reign of Messiah,
using the Moabites in their plight, as examples of those, who fly to Christ for
salvation. Like Ruth, they cry for a new
country and a new allegiance to the throne of lovingkindness! (v.4-5) They submit to the faithful Judge from David’s
tent who brings a millennium of justice and righteousness.
Pride prevents salvation
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| The narrow passageway to Petra |
Ah, but on
the other hand, we see stubborn pride, which will not submit in humble
recognition of need. They will not change even at the cost of their lives and
their nation. No one and nothing can break their arrogant independence. They
choose destruction over salvation and if the destruction is eternal, then so is
their pride. This, my friend, is the cause of the world’s woes and the reason
behind destruction and condemnation. Salvation is at their right hand. The Rock
is there to hide in and the sacrifice can be applied, but not without a humble
submission to the King (v.6). “Therefore
let Moab wail for Moab” and we are taken back to chapter 15 to watch more
of the same wailing and grief (v.7). It is now on a higher level, because we
have seen the escape, and know that all the mourning could be averted.
Now, Isaiah
takes us to observe the lost produce of the land. Here is a land that, under
the right stewardship, could be productive and enjoyable, but as we have now
seen, pride is the great obstacle to that enjoyment. Lost opportunity in the
face of great potential is a sad consequence for a proud refusal to bow, trust
and partake. The vines are gone and so are the grapes and raisins that they
produce (v.8).
Isaiah weeps
and the heart of their Creator breaks (v.9). Oh tears, come freely and bathe
our faces for the lost, who have strayed far from hope and home! See their
pride, see their suffering, see their loss, and weep! What else can we do? Let
Isaiah describe it: “Gladness and joy
are taken away from the fruitful field; in the vineyards also there will be no
cries of joy or jubilant shouting. No treader treads out wine in the presses,
for I have made the shouting to cease” (v.10).
The jubilant
shout of harvest fades and the mournful harp expresses the sadness of the heart
of the prophet (v.11). No, there was no help for Moab in the proud state in
which he presented himself, although he tarried long in prayer. There are two
reasons for which he will not prevail: 1) He is coming to an idol that he has
formed. He is worshipping his own god in his own way and that will not catch
the ear of Him, who is worshipped in Spirit and in truth. 2) His devotion is
only the reflection of a stubborn will that cannot be broken (v.12).
“You ask and do not receive, because you ask with wrong motives, so that
you may spend it on your pleasures. You adulteresses, do you not know that
friendship with the world is hostility toward God? Therefore whoever wishes to
be a friend of the world makes himself an enemy of God… Submit therefore to
God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you. Draw near to God and He will
draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners; and purify your hearts, you
double-minded. Be miserable and mourn and weep; let your laughter be turned
into mourning and your joy to gloom. Humble yourselves in the presence of the
Lord, and He will exalt you” (Jam.4:3-10).
God fixed a
short time before his prophetic word would come to pass. The Assyrian invader
was at the door. It was time for him to come down upon northern Israel and
Samaria. He would make an attempt against Judah without success, but Moab was
doomed to all that was prophesied in these two chapters. Its glory would depart
and its population would be depleted until a small, insignificant, weak nation
would remain (v.14). The JFB commentary
states: “The ruins of Elealeh, Heshbon, Medeba, Dibon, etc.,
still exist to confirm the inspiration of Scripture. The accurate particularity of specification of the
places three thousand years ago, confirmed by modern research, is a strong
testimony to the truth of prophecy.”
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