06.18.09
Isaiah - Day 291
Scripture: Isaiah 15:8 (NIV): "Their outcry echoes along the border of Moab; their wailing reaches as far as Eglaim, their lamentation as far as Beer Elim."
Thought: To me, the emotional upheaval of sorrow does not move God as does the willing repentance of the heart.
Question: Have I cried before God to no avail?
Israel's enemy, Moab, is under attack (by the Assyrians). "Their outcry echoes along the border of Moab;" To me, this statement illustrates how carefully the "division line" is drawn by the "hand of God," as it were, between His chosen people and their neighbor, the enemy, Moab. While Moab is being utterly torn up by these cruel Assyrians, Israel is protected and safe. The border line separates Israel from this conflict of war. This is clear proof how God is in control and how He "directs" judgment exactly where it ought to go.
"...their wailing reaches as far as Eglaim..." Eglaim was located (probably) somewhere between Ar and Kir and is, today, southeast of present-day Kerak in present-day Jordan. "...their lamentations as far as Beer Elim." Beer Elim would have been straight west of Eglaim and nearly to the coast of The Dead Sea. The point is, to me, that no town or area seems to be exempt from this Assyrian invasion and assault. From "the border" (along the Dead Sea) inland to Eglaim, and back again toward Beer Elim, the cries can be heard--covering the whole of Moab.
Cries, wails and lamentations, though made in abundance and loudly, even carrying for miles, may not make a difference as far as changing the Moabites' "fate." God has seen their sinfulness and though they may moan and cry, it will be to no avail unless their hearts turn or change. In that great chapter in Hebrews, chapter 12, dealing with this very topic of disciplinary methods God has employed and warnings given to Christian believers against sin, God makes it clear that to live without God, The True God, is a terrible fate. Hebrews 12: 16 and 17: "See that no one is sexually immoral, or is godless like Esau, who for a single meal sold his inheritance rights as the oldest son. Afterward, as you know, when he wanted to inherit this blessing, he was rejected. He could bring about no change of mind, though he sought the blessing with tears." The King James Version says, "...he found no place of repentance..." Indeed! The "place of repentance" is a "change of mind"!
Moab would not change their mind and come into the worship of The One, True God. And so they were severely judged, with their "wailing" and "lamentation" reaching out over their entire homeland to no avail! Will America do as Moab did?
Prayer: Father, I appreciate so much Your hunger for our legitimate repentance. You strive to own us to the very core of our being! I pray that I would always seek to love You with all my being, and that Your love for me would lead me to real repentance. For Jesus' sake, Amen.
Marcy : Empty Tears
06/22/2009, at 20:45 [ Reply ]
Is. 15:8. It is kind of like when we were children. Our tears were more because we got caught or got in trouble not because we were truly repentant. So when the watchful eye of the parent was closed, we went and immediately did it again. Gen. 6:5 "And the Lord God saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every intention of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually."