Isaiah 16 Devotional
by Pastor Mark Hudson

As Isaiah judges the nations, he begins with Babylon, then Assyria 14:24ff, then Philistia 14:28ff and in chapters 15 and 16, Moab.  Moab and the nation of Israel (meaning both Israel and Judah) have a long and somewhat close, albeit ambiguous relationship.   Isaiah seems to genuinely feel remorse over Moab’s fate.  This may reflect the relationship Israel and Judah have with Moab as well as Isaiah is reflecting what a true prophet (or believer) feels toward those who reject the truth.

So where do the Moabites come from?  In Gen 19:34ff, the daughters of Lot get their father drunk so he will impregnate them.  The first child is named Moab meaning “from Father” while his brother, Ben-Ammi means “son of my people” and they became the Ammonites.  The language and script of the Moabites were similar to Hebrew.  Then in the book of Ruth, we see how easy it was to move back and forth from Israel to Moab. 

Yet, there was evident tension.  They both laid claim to the area north of the Arnon River.  Moab is about 30 miles long and 30 miles wide.  This area was contested throughout the years (Num 21:24-30; Judg 3:12-30; 11:22-26; I Sam 14:47; II K. 3:4-27) until there was deep hostility (Zeph 2:9, 10)  (Oswalt p. 336).

Here is how Oswalt divides up the chapter:

Is 16:1-5 is a plea on behalf of the refugees

16:6-12  contrasts Moab’s former pride with her fallen estate

16:13,14 is a postscript covering the application.

                In verses 4-5, Judah is invited to welcome the Moabite sojourners and it seems like the hope is that the Moabites will turn to the Messiah, the one who judges and seeks justice and is swift to do righteousness v. 5.   Even though Isaiah seems to be genuinely concerned about Moab since he writes, “. . . my inner parts moan like a lyre for Moab, and my innermost self for Kir-hareseth”  v. 11, there is no doubt Moab is proud.  In v. 6, notice the stress on words for pride.  “We have heard of the pride of Moab – how proud he is!- of his arrogance, his pride, his insolence; in his idle boasting he is not right.”  God is not judging them because they are not Israeli.  He is judging them for sin.  Pride is a horrible sin.  Sin always brings down God’s wrath.  God promises He will take joy and gladness away.  No songs will be sung, no cheers raised, no joy of treading grapes at the end of harvest in v. 10. 

                God is not pushing the nations away from Him.  He is not judging them with no hope offered to them.  Look at Is. 19:19-24, one of my favorite sections in the entire Bible.  The vision of Isaiah is that God will be loved, worshipped, and obeyed by the current enemies of God: Assyria and Egypt.  These enemies of God will be turned into red hot lovers of God’s glory, even surpassing the standing of Israel.  The Lord says in v. 24, “In that day Israel will be the third with Egypt and Assyria.”

                In Is 19:19-22, God is treating Egypt as He would treat Israel.  As you read sections of the Old Testament like this, remind yourself that the people who are not believers could, should, and ought to be believers.  And they would be great Christians.  Do you have people  in your life that you say, “They would be wonderful Christians?”   Some of these friends seem so close.  Don’t you wonder why they don’t just walk over the imaginary line and ask Christ to be their Lord?

                God is bringing together Egypt, Assyria, and Israel as a people.  He is in the process of calling them to Himself.  God is always reaching out to others with His life-giving grace.  When Adam and Eve sinned, God took the initiative.  God sends prophets like Moses, Elijah, Nathan, Isaiah, and Nehemiah as well as Joel, Amos, and others.  God is not passively watching us to see if we might believe.  Rather, God chooses all who come to Him. 

 This is why we spread the good news in all parts of the world.  We go to Flint, China, Colombia, Zambia, Peru, and Indonesia because God is calling all people to His Son, the Lord Jesus.  God is there calling people to repent and believe.  We know there are always people God has called to Himself.  God is actively calling people now. 

God’s heart is to gather his own in who are not yet in the fold.  Jesus said, “I have other sheep that are not of this fold.  I must bring them also, and they will listen to my voice.  So there will be one flock, one shepherd”  John 10:16.  He is always seeking to turn His chosen toward His Son and adopt them as His own children.

Lord, I come to you in the power of the Holy Spirit and in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ.  I pray for this ungodly, God-rejecting, lying, proud, rebellious, and self-centered nation.  How You are so kind and why You  are so good to us, we will never know or understand this side of glory.  Forgive our many sins and light a fire under us so the people we live near have a change to hear.  May I have such care for unbelievers that I weep as Isaiah does in this chapter 

May our church and every church direct, point, and urge people to come to Christ.   We lift up all church to You.  We need all our churches in North America to lift up the Christ of the Scriptures.  We pray for all true believers that they would be strong in the faith and growing in grace.  In Christ’s Name who still is actively calling His own.  Amen.