Isaiah

Isaiah Chapter 15

• Isaiah 15:1 The burden of Moab. Because in the night Ar of Moab is laid waste, and brought to silence; because in the night Kir of Moab is laid waste, and brought to silence;

This prophecy concerns Moab and the judgment upon it. It has come to pass already. Moab was one the the sons of Lot. Lot was Abraham's nephew who at one time traveled with Abraham out of the land of Ur into the land of Canaan. As their flocks and population grew they had to separate. Lot went to dwell in Sodom and Abraham dwelled in the plains. We know by studying scripture that Sodom was later destroyed by fire from heaven because of sin that went too far in the sight of God. His daughters who had fled Sodom along with Lot each in turn got their own father drunk and decided to have a child by their father in order to preserve his name. One child was Ammon and the other was Moab. Evidently the sins of Sodom influenced these girls into wickedness. Moab later became an enemy of Israel and gave her much grief when Israel came into the promise land.

• Isaiah 15:2 He is gone up to Bajith, and to Dibon, the high places, to weep: Moab shall howl over Nebo, and over Medeba: on all their heads shall be baldness, and every beard cut off.
• 3 In their streets they shall gird themselves with sackcloth: on the tops of their houses, and in their streets, every one shall howl, weeping abundantly.

This is judgment from God that brought about much distress and howling.

• Isaiah 15:4 And Heshbon shall cry, and Elealeh: their voice shall be heard even unto Jahaz: therefore the armed soldiers of Moab shall cry out; his life shall be grievous unto him.

The cities mentioned here were cities of Moab. Moab was judged for pride, worshipping idols and oppressing Israel. Every time Israel was being surrounded by enemies, Moab would be glad and rejoice. The Assyrians later destroyed Moab. They suffered defeat and even mourned the loss of their high places which were used to worship idols. The sin of Sodom had influenced them from their beginnings.

In the latter days, however God shall use the area of Moab, to prepare a place for Israel to run to when they flee the land of Israel to escape the army of the antichrist according to how some interpret bible prophecy. This would be the latter day time of Jacob's trouble or what we now call the great tribulation.

• " Yet will I bring again the captivity of Moab in the latter days, saith the LORD. Thus far is the judgment of Moab." Jeremiah 48:37. "

In the book of Daniel he tells of the invasion of the man of sin, which we now call the antichrist into the land of Israel.

• " He shall enter also into the glorious land, and many countries shall be overthrown: but these shall escape out of his hand, even Edom, and Moab, and the chief of the children of Ammon." Daniel 11:41

Edom, Moab, and Ammon escape the rule of the antichrist. God remembers Lot and will save his descendants in the latter days. Abraham's prayer goes a long way it seems. He was told ahead of time the destruction of Sodom and interceded on behalf of his nephew Lot. Only three people were spared when Sodom was destroyed. Only eight survived the flood of Noah. God is a God of much love but when people continue in sin and refuse to turn around, God has to bring it to an end to save the remnant before they too are overcome by the sin that steals, kills and destroys.

• Revelation 12:6 And the woman fled into the wilderness, where she hath a place prepared of God, that they should feed her there a thousand two hundred and threescore days.

We see from Revelation chapter 12 about how God uses Israel's former enemies, the descendents of Lot to protect a remnant of Israel during the great tribulation.

• Revelation 12:14 And to the woman were given two wings of a great eagle, that she might fly into the wilderness, into her place, where she is nourished for a time, and times, and half a time, from the face of the serpent.

Israel is pictured here as a woman that flees the beast into the wilderness. When you put this prophecy with the old Testament prophecy and knowing the closeness of the old land of Moab, Ammon and Edom to Israel, we can then figure out along with other supporting scripture that this is the place where Israel flees during the tribulation period. Again don't just take my word for anything. This should cause us to diligently search the scriptures to see if this is so.

• Isaiah 15:5  My heart shall cry out for Moab; his fugitives shall flee unto Zoar, an heifer of three years old: for by the mounting up of Luhith with weeping shall they go it up; for in the way of Horonaim they shall raise up a cry of destruction. 

This should always be our attitude. God's judgment comes eventually. He sends many to warn nations and countries before He sinds judgment. After the coming of Jesus, God now sends many to preach the gospel of Jesus Christ. Jesus is the way out of corruption and sin for all who will receive Him. He is the way, the truth, the life. Never should we gloat and rejoice over another nation's destruction. God had to send judgment to the nation of Israel by Assyria and Babylon but,  He will also send judgment upon those that rejoiced in the troubles of Israel.

• Isaiah 15:6  For the waters of Nimrim shall be desolate: for the hay is withered away, the grass faileth, there is no green thing.  

Some bible commentators say that this is the reason they flee to the south, the waters dried up in the north. Whatever the cause, we see that the waters are dried up, nothing is growing.

Judgment falls upon Moab after the prophecy of Isaiah but God uses Moab in the latter days to fulfill His will concerning Israel.

• 7 Therefore the abundance they have gotten, and that which they have laid up, shall they carry away to the brook of the willows.
• 8 For the cry is gone round about the borders of Moab; the howling thereof unto Eglaim, and the howling thereof unto Beerelim.
• 9 For the waters of Dimon shall be full of blood: for I will bring more upon Dimon, lions upon him that escapeth of Moab, and upon the remnant of the land.

When the waters are full of blood that indicates that people are killed and blood shed because of war. The immediate fulfillment of Moab was judgment because of their sin against Israel and against God. We read more about Moab in chapter 16.

Isaiah 16

Isaiah Index