Reading

Of course Chapter 16 is a continuation of chapter 15, primarily because the dividing of the Bible into chapters and verses was mans way of navigating the scriptures quickly. The subject is still Moab! The reason God was so unhappy with Moab was that "Moab worshipped in the house of false gods". Because of this God is not at all happy! It is so obvious in the 16^th chapter as well as Isaiah gave the answer in 15:2 "where they went to the high places and sought out false gods, rather then calling out to the one true God.

 

There was a bond, a kinship between the Moabites and Israeli people, of course because they both belonged to the family of Abraham. Moab was the nephew of Abraham through Lot. The Moabites had issues and did not get along with the Israelites, and they didn't just fight them, but they infiltrated them with strangers [foreigners] to cause wars with and for them. Needless to say God was not happy with this.

 

People would say Wow! Gods a big bully! How can a God of love and Grace kill thousands of people, wipe out Nations, and cause their L.I.P.s (Local Indigenous Personnel, as we call them in the Military) Even Christians question God's judgment.

 

We really need to understand Gods ways are not our ways! God is a loving, merciful, gracious, caring, etc…….  God! Let us never forget He is a God of Judgment as well! What kind of God would He be if he allowed people and Nations to walk al over Him. Even though I do not like when God spanks me I know it is my own SIN and disobedience that brings it on. The miracle is that even in the midst of the Moabites SIN and disobediences God is not done with them as we will see in the book of Ruth!

 

I'm so happy I have a God that I cannot figure out! He is the God of many chances. He did not come down on Moab after one small offense. It was only after years of Sin and disobedience.

 

What fools we are to read through the Old Testament and not learn and apply these lessons to our own lives before we experience God's discipline. Which is for our own good. Anyone who has or works with kids knows just what I'm talking about!  There is so much more meat in these chapters to unpack. I could write a lot more pages concerning Moab's history, Sin and rebellion, but we were asked to keep the blogs to about 3 paragraphs.  

 

 

    

Chuck Goulart