Bible Study: Isaiah 15:1-9

Today's lesson covers the burden against Moab.

Satellite view of Israel and the surrounding area.

Historical Background:  Moab

The origin of the Moabites is recorded in Genesis 19.  When God destroyed Sodom and Gomorrah, Lot who was Abraham’s nephew and his family were lead by the angels to safety. Lot’s wife, however, broke the commandment to not look back and was turned into a pillar of salt. This left Lot alone with his two virgin daughters.  From fear of God’s judgment, Lot went to hide in a mountain nearby. 

Seeing the destruction of their city, Lot’s daughters decided that there is no man for them to marry (a very odd decision considering there were many other peoples in that region at that time—this reveals how loyal they were to the culture of Sodom).  Therefore, in an abominable scheme, they ended up having sons from their father.  The eldest daughter’s son was Moab, and the younger daughter’s son was Ben-ammi, the father of the Ammonites. 

Though related to Abraham, the Moabites and Ammonites were the children of a heinous act, taught after the wicked ways of a society God had to destroy because of their sins, and never in their history turned to know the living God.

---

Isaiah Chapter 15

Grace in Destruction

Lessons from the text

I find it amazing that in the midst of proclaiming judgment on Moab, God inserts the phrase "My heart shall cry out for Moab" (v5).  Similarly, when Jesus was being criticized by the priest of the Temple, He lamented over Jerusalem, saying that He desired to gather her under His wings as a hen gathers her chickens (Mt 23:37).  God so desperately wants to draw us under His protection, but we spurn Him.  

In infinite patience, He tries again and again to get our attention to accept His good will for our lives.  Even with a nation like Moab that has chosen wickedness ever since it the moment it began, God still extends good will.  He is "not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance" (2 Pet 3:9).  

What is the point of the parable of the ninety and nine sheep?  Is it not that God does not want any one soul to be lost?  (Mt 18:10-14)

No matter what your sin or the sin of your people/nation/family history, God yearns for fellowship with you.  He wants to be able to gather you as one of His own, to call you by His name.

Will you accept Him?

If, regrettably, you do not accept Him, then you become like the nation Moab:  doomed to judgment, breaking God's heart as He watches you suffer for the consequences of your decision.

---

Verse by Verse Commentary

1-3  God lists the major cities for Moab.  Because of their destruction, the people will weep and head to the mountains.  Shaving the head and beard and wearing sackcloth are signs of extreme grief.  This prophecy is repeated and expounded in Jeremiah 48:28-37.

4  Heshbon is located just outside the Promise Land beside the Jordan River and was given to Rueben and Gad.  Jahaz is about 20 miles to the south of Heshbon.  At the time of the prophecy, these cities were under Jewish control, yet the text clearly suggests that they are under Moabite control when these events occur.

5  Even while God is allowing Moab to be destroyed, He is crying over them.  God’s justice demands that He acts against the evildoer, but He takes no pleasure in doing so.

6  Like the prophecy of chapter 11:15, God will stop the rivers of Moab in the time of His judgment.

7  In the day of judgment, the Moabites will flee with everything they have just to find water.

8-9  The prophecy now switches from an unidentified source of ruin to the divine hand of God against Moab.  God’s judgment is not always in the form of a supernatural event; sometimes it is God removing His protection to allow enemies to have the victory.

___________________

Please comment below to share what you learned from today's lesson.

---