Waiting in My Moab

Behold, this is our God; we have waited for him, that he might save us. This is the Lord; we have waited for him; let us be glad and rejoice in his salvation. For the hand of the Lord will rest on this mountain and Moab shall be trampled down in his place. God will spread out his hands in the midst of it. Isaiah 25:9-11

         From it’s very beginning, the land of Moab was cursed.  The child, Moab, was born to Lot and his daughter.  Incest was the foundation of his personal history.  As his line increased, the nation of Moab grew stronger and became more evil. They practiced sorcery, open adultery, incest, and prostitution. They even threw unwanted children into the fire. When Moab is spoken of metaphorically in scripture, it refers to any place where evil reigns and God is dishonored.

         As a nation, we are residing in Moab. We are waiting for the Lord’s salvation. He is the One who will bring down the pride of His enemies, stripping them of the very things of which they are most proud. He will break their power and disable their ability to sin. He will destroy all their fortresses. While we wait, and faint because we see no sign of redemption, we can have great hope in the promises of a God who preserves his people until the day of deliverance.

         ‘Living in Moab’ can also describe the personal existence of many of God’s children. Maybe you are one of them. Moab may represent your home. You co-exist with unbelievers who are resistant to the very idea of Christ Jesus. Idolatry and blatant materialism are at the center of your loved one’s life. They sin boldly without the slightest wince. The closer you get to Jesus, the more friction you feel in your ‘Moab’.

         If any of us trace back the history of our Moab-like existence, we discover bad foundations. Just as the people of the Moabites began with an act of incest, our Moab can begin with seeds of unrighteousness. Unless the very foundations are examined and sins acknowledged, Moab cannot be saved.

         The land of Moab can characterize a nation, a home, a business, and even a church. Every living entity has a beginning; a righteous or unrighteous conception. Many try to invoke God’s blessing on their Titanic. They are painting and redecorating their sinking ship and prayers for blessing, without self-examination, are an affront to a holy God.

         Could God save the likes of a Moabite? Oh yes. Look at Ruth. A daughter of Moab, she left her homeland and turned her face toward Yahweh to humbly follow Him. From her line, came our Savior. If you dwell with Moabites and God has not delivered you out of their hands, be joyful in Hope, yet humble. Pray for their salvation. One of them could be a ‘Ruth’.   And when there is blatant sin, ask God for the strength to speak the words of Jesus. He set an example, modeling ministry against the backdrop of Jewish religiosity and the Roman Empire.

Don’t let me wimp out and shut down. As I wait for Your salvation, I will speak Your word and stand in faith for salvation.  In Jesus’ name, Amen