Isaiah 16 WHAT ABOUT THE REFUGEES? Isaiah’s prophecy warning of Assyrians attacking Moab, continues as they are told that Moabites fleeing the Assyrians will go the Sela, the capital of Edom, which was an ally of Moab. Other Moabite refugees, in desperation will send a lamb or lambs as a tribute to Jerusalem seeking refugee status and the protection of Judah. Isaiah told the people of Judah to accept the refugees because Jerusalem would be a safe place for a while. Compassion was a sign of concern of the Jews during that time of devastation brought on Moab by the Assyrians.
There is value in having a godly testimony and showing compassion. It was the Lord Himself who told Moab to turn away from their enmity against Judah and to show it. Compassion for the needy and suffering of the world is expected of those who know the Lord. The widows, orphans and poor are of special concern to our Lord and He expects it to be a concern of those who represent Him here in the world. There are certain expectations of those who need help, and unfortunately often those expectations are rejected. Gratitude and humility are both attitudes expected of those seeking help of others. Demands that are unrealistic, and an attitude of arrogance and national pride in a foreign country, are not expected nor should be accepted by those who help the needy.
For some reason, the refugees from Moab did not respond to the divine request to humble themselves, and turn away from their pride and conceit. Consequently, instead of turning to the Lord and finding the mercy He gives, and being able t,w o accept what He alone can do for them, they rejected Him. What should have been a joyous time of harvest, was the time they lost everything. To rebel against God because of pride, will for those who are unbelievers like the Moabites who would not leave their gods and idolatry; bring lasting and eternal grief. Such self-interest and arrogance against Him, will result in those who knew the goodness of God, experiencing the severity of God.
When the Moabites experienced the righteous judgment of God against them because of the sin and rejection of Him, instead of turning to the Lord, they went to their own idols, shrines and false gods. If we try to escape the problems we have and deal with them in our own way, there is nothing or no one who can help us. Even if we call on them to help us but demand that help be on our terms, they are not very likely to show any desire to come and save us from the results of our own sin.
The God of yesterday is the same God today. “Whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved,” is welcome news to the repentant sinner. Likewise, when a child of God calls upon the Lord, He is there to hear, to help and to do that which is best when we put all our hope, our faith and our trust completely in Him. He is the One who knows exactly what is needed and is there to meet that need as He sees fit.
The invasion of Moab happened just three years after Isaiah prophesied of the coming invasion of Assyrian. The predictions of a true prophet actually happen. They did not speculate, and the fulfillment of those prophecies will come to pass in the time God has arranged. Some happen soon, like in Moab; some later like in Judah, and some haven’t happened yet – but what God says will come to pass. As we read through the scriptures and learn what has been prophesied regarding the future, we begin to look as the “signs of the times,” and can see that the warnings of second Peter and of Jude are evident in the religious world today. When we read second Thessalonians and second Timothy, we can see what is happening to individuals and nations right in our day and our country. It is a good thing for us to keep into the word of God so we can keep a clear understanding in our minds as to what is yet going to happen in our world. Th promises of God are “Yea and Amen,”