Daily Devotions
Isaiah
"Send the lamb to the ruler of the land"
Text: Isaiah 16:1
MOAB’S RELATIONSHIP WITH ISRAEL
In some ways, Moab was related to Israel. The history of Moab included times when Moab was quite close to Israel.
“Send the lamb to the ruler of the land,
From Sela to the wilderness,
To the mount of the daughter of Zion.
For it shall be as a wandering bird thrown out of the nest;
So shall be the daughters of Moab at the fords of the Arnon.”
Isaiah 16:1-2
1. Moab and Ammon
a) They were the sons of Lot, albeit because of the conniving of his two daughters
(Genesis 19:30-38).
b) Moab and Ammon were the sons of Lot, a nephew of Abraham.
c) Abraham would have been their granduncle.
2. The oppressive reign of King Ahab
a) When King Ahab was on the throne of Israel, he subjugated Moab.
b) King Mesha was a sheep breeder he had to pay regularly to King Ahab.
i) 100,000 lambs.
ii) 100,000 rams and the wool they yielded (2 Kings 3:4).
c) Moab rebelled after some time and fierce wars ensued.
3. In this instance
a) Moab was asked to just send one lamb.
b) This lamb was to be sent to the “mount of the daughter of Zion”.
This is a figurative reference to the Temple at Zion.
4. Advice to the fleeing Moabites
a) The daughters (womenfolk) would be very hard hit.
b) God understands their predicament.
c) The Moabite women were compared to:
i) A wandering bird.
ii) The bird in question had been thrown out of its nest.
d) He was urging the womenfolk (the daughters of Moab) who were fleeing Moab.
e) The symbol of offering a lamb.
i) It would be offered to God in worship.
ii) God does not command 100,000 lambs to be given.
iii) The offering of a single lamb in sincere and humble worship was all that God has asked from the Moabites.
f) The question was whether Moab and the womenfolk would be positively responsive to the LORD’s word.