Audio Of Sermon: 

Sermon Notes: As we are preaching through Isaiah the Lord took me to the next text, Isaiah chapters 15-16 (page 1000-1001 in your Pew Bibles). Let’s read responsively:

Isaiah 15:1 (KJV)  The burden of Moab. Because in the night Ar of Moab is laid waste, and brought to silence; because in the night Kir of Moab is laid waste, and brought to silence; Matthew 11:28-30 (KJV)   Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.   [29]   Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls.   [30]   For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.

I looked at this text, these two chapters, and asked the Lord “How do I preach this text?” My first response was to skip it. But as I prayed and sought His Face, His blessed Face, the Spirit began to speak to my heart. Of faith. Of what genuine faith is, and isn’t. People today are burdened – weighed down – because they have placed their faith in the wrong vessel. This is the story of the Moabites, the children of almost faith.

What Does Genuine Faith Look Like?
It Looks Like Abraham

The Bible tells us that:

Hebrews 11:6 (KJV)  But without faith it is impossible to please {God}: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.

Faith is not a light hearted belief like we have in a lucky rabbit’s foot or a four leaf clover.
Faith believes that God IS – no matter what the circumstances.
Faith believes that God rewards those who keep on seeking Him.

The story of Moab begins in our Bible with a man named Abraham and his nephew Lot.

Abraham loved the Lord. In fact, Abraham was initially called ABRAM. It was as ABRAM that he was called to believe in God. It was through the death of his father and multiple trials that ABRAM became ABRAHAM. God gave Abraham his name, and his strength. Abraham believed beyond what his eyes saw. Abraham didn’t serve God perfectly, but he served God the best he could. He diligently sought God. When he moved he moved where God told him to go. When he had no direction Abraham would stop and wait on God. Faith is waiting on God in good times and in bad, seeking His face and His direction. Faith is doing as the Psalmist said:

Psalm 27:14 (NKJV) Wait on the Lord; Be of good courage, And He shall strengthen your heart; Wait, I say, on the Lord!

When you don’t know what to do, wait on the Lord. This is doesn’t mean to do nothing. We are to serve God with all our hearts while we wait. But we we wait if we have no direction. We set up our tent in the desert. We do not fret, but we wait. We do not worry, but we wait. We do like Abraham did.

Just as George Washington is the father of our country,
Abraham is the father of true faith.

Abraham believed God. Abraham “saw Jesus’ day and was glad” (John 8:56). Abraham believed in God, put his faith in God, loved God.

Romans 4:18-22 …. {Abraham} contrary to hope, in hope believed, so that he became the father of many nations, according to what was spoken, “So shall your descendants be.” 19 And not being weak in faith, he did not consider his own body, already dead (since he was about a hundred years old), and the deadness of Sarah’s womb. 20 He did not waver at the promise of God through unbelief, but was strengthened in faith, giving glory to God, 21 and being fully convinced that what He had promised He was also able to perform. 22 And therefore “it was accounted to him for righteousness.”

Abraham believed God. Abraham followed God, and Lot his nephew followed Abraham.

Now who was Lot?
Was Lot a believer?

Yes, he was. The Apostle says that God …

delivered righteous Lot, who was oppressed by
the filthy conduct of the wicked (2 Peter 2:7)

Lot is called “righteous Lot” because he, too was saved. He believed in God. But Lot as a believer was not as Abraham was a believer. Lot judged things not according to the Promise of God, but according to his eyes.

One day Lot’s shepherds got in a fight with Abraham’s shepherds. The shepherds and the herdsmen were responsible for feeding their master’s sheep, but the land could not support two huge groups of animals. God had blessed Lot just as he blessed Abraham for following Him. Do you know that God promises that if you …

Matthew 6:33 (KJV) But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.

If you want to be blessed in this life, put God first.
If you want to be blessed in this life, put God first.
If you want to be blessed in this life, put God first.

Both Lot and Abraham loved the Lord, and were following the Lord. But now comes a fight between their herdsmen and shepherds. What to do? Now Abraham was the senior, the elder, and he should have first choice. But Abraham wasn’t worried – he knew God was going to take care of him. Abraham told Lot:

Genesis 13:8-9 (NKJV) Please let there be no strife between you and me, and between my herdsmen and your herdsmen; for we are brethren. 9 Is not the whole land before you? Please separate from me. If you take the left, then I will go to the right; or, if you go to the right, then I will go to the left.

Choose which way you want to go, Lot. Let peace reign between us.
How did Lot respond?
He took what looked like the best land!

Genesis 13:10-11 (NKJV) Lot lifted his eyes and saw all the plain of Jordan, that it was well watered everywhere (before the Lord destroyed Sodom and Gomorrah) like the garden of the Lord, like the land of Egypt as you go toward Zoar. 11 Then Lot chose for himself all the plain of Jordan, and Lot journeyed east.

Lot let his eyes lead him rather than the Lord lead him. Abraham took the other path, and God promised Abraham and his descendants the area known as Canaan or the Promised Land. But Lot headed toward Sodom and Gomorrah, and set up his home in that place. Lot began a compromising faith. And this is what led to Moab.

Lot’s Faith Was Compromising
Compromising Faith Leads To Moab

Lot settled in Sodom, a place known for grievous sexual sin. He had two daughters while in that place. The wages of sin is death, and in time God decided to destroy Sodom because of the abounding evil that was there. But God was not willing to destroy Lot and his family with the Sodomites. Two Angels of God went to Sodom, and on entering the city they went to Lot’s home. Arriving at Lot’s home the Bible tells us that …

Genesis 19:4 (NKJV) Now before they lay down, the men of the city, the men of Sodom, both old and young, all the people from every quarter, surrounded the house. 5 And they called to Lot and said to him, “Where are the men who came to you tonight? Bring them out to us that we may know them carnally.”

Lot went out to these wild and sinful men. Lot didn’t stand against sin, but compromised with the evil. When you compromise with darkness you are darkness. When you compromise with evil you are evil.

Genesis 19:7-8 (NKJV) …. “Please, my brethren, do not do so wickedly! 8 See now, I have two daughters who have not known a man; please, let me bring them out to you, and you may do to them as you wish; only do nothing to these men, since this is the reason they have come under the shadow of my roof.”

What a travesty that Lot would so compromise as to offer his virgin daughters to this evil crowd! God did not allow this, nor did He allow Sodom to remain standing. God destroyed Sodom and Gomorra that very night, and led Lot and his daughters to a cave to rest while he poured out his judgment on evil. God will judge evil. God despises sin. A judgment day is coming, dear ones. Are you following the Lord?

While in that cave Lot’s daughters, believing the world had ended (so terrible was the judgment of God on Sodom and Gomorra), they believed that there were no men left on the earth. Their father’s faith was based on his eyes and heart, and so was Lot’s daughters. So they got Lot drunk, and in an act of incest became pregnant. We are told in …

Genesis 19:37 (NKJV) {Lot’s} firstborn {daughter} bore a son and called his name Moab; he is the father of the Moabites to this day.

The Moabites were cousins to the Israelites, of the same blood line as Abraham. The Moabites were born not of faith but of compromising faith, wayward faith, faithlessness.

It took us a while to get back to Isaiah, but you needed to know where Moab came from. Moab is born of compromise. Moab is born of weak faith. Moab is born of the flesh. Moab wallows in the darkness.

The “Burden” Of Moab

Isaiah 15:1 (KJV)  The burden of Moab. Because in the night Ar of Moab is laid waste, and brought to silence; because in the night Kir of Moab is laid waste, and brought to silence;

• The “Burden” Of Moab Is That They Rejected God. The Lord Jesus Christ gave Himself for the sins of the whole world to bring us to God.

1 John 2:2 (NKJV) And He Himself is the propitiation for our sins, and not for ours only but also for the whole world.

God offers salvation by faith in Him. Abraham believed God and God protected Abraham. Lot believed God partially, and brought much misery in his life. But Moab grew up watching a compromising parent, a Lot who was little in faith. Moab rejected faith in God. The darkness came, and Moab’s chief cities fell. Our nation today is falling under the weight of sin and faithlessness.

• The “Burden” Of Moab Is Pride And Misplaced Faith. In our country today people march in pride supporting things they should not be proud of. In our country today preachers proudly preach what God has said is wrong.

Isaiah 16:6 (KJV)  We have heard of the pride of Moab; he is very proud: even of his haughtiness, and his pride, and his wrath: but his lies shall not be so.

People speak a lie and swear it to be the truth. People depart from God, live a half faith, and wonder why their children grow up imprisoned, immoral, in trouble. The Bible tells us what you sow, you shall reap:

Galatians 6:7-8 (NKJV) Do not be deceived, God is not mocked; for whatever a man sows, that he will also reap. 8 For he who sows to his flesh will of the flesh reap corruption, but he who sows to the Spirit will of the Spirit reap everlasting life.

Where faith in God and love for others is sowed the same shall be reaped. But the lies of Satan and the lies of Moab shall not prosper. Evil breeds evil.

• The “Burden” Of Moab Is Suffering Brought On By Faithlessness.

Isaiah 16:7 (KJV)  Therefore shall Moab howl for Moab, every one shall howl: for the foundations of Kirhareseth shall ye mourn; surely they are stricken.

Moab cannot fix itself, but needs the Lord. We cannot fix ourselves, but we need the Lord. There is no hope looking to ourselves for the solution. We all need Jesus!

• The “Burden” of Moab Is The Heavy Heart Of The Saved. As Isaiah looked on Moab and delivered judgment against that people his heart was heavy. He said:

Isaiah 15:5 (KJV)  My heart shall cry out for Moab …

Oh, how the mother weeps over the child who will not hear God’s Word. Rivers of tears have been cried for children who rejected the loving call of God. Isaiah saw Moab as his cousin, a people who should have been children of the promise. But they would not hear. They hardened their hearts against God. They brought anguish upon themselves. The legendary man of God W.A. Criswell wrote:

“There was brought to my hands one time a letter. “Read this” they said. “It is addressed to you.” It was from a young woman who had taken her own life. … What happened was syphilis. Venereal disease had begun to attack the soft tissues of her eyes, and she was going blind.”

How sad that this young woman did not repent and come to Christ. What a burden she put upon the Pastor at her burial. What a burden she put on her parents, and not just this, but on herself. The self righteous Pharisees murmured against Jesus because, they said with a sneer,

Luke 15:2 (KJV) … This man receiveth sinners, and eateth with them.

But what is it that Jesus said?

Mark 2:17 (KJV) …. They that are whole have no need of the physician, but they that are sick: I came not to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance.

Jesus Offers Hope And Peace For The Burdened

Jesus came for the broken, the hurting, the Moabite. He calls to the Moabite and to you to …

Matthew 11:28-30 (KJV)   Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.   [29]   Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls.   [30]   For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.

Jesus Christ came to this earth to save sinners, the broken, the wandering, the lost. He came for the burdened.

Days are filled with sorrow and care
Hearts are lonely and drear
Burdens are Lifted at Calvary
Jesus is very near

Burdens are lifted at Calvary
Calvary, Calvary
Burdens are lifted at Calvary
Jesus is very near

Cast your care on Jesus today
Leave your worry and fear
Burdens Are Lifted At Calvary
Jesus is very near!

Faith in Christ brings us into – as Criswell used to say – “The Land of Beginning Again”. He said:

“I don’t have to die. I don’t have to be judged. I don’t have to be condemned. In Christ there is a great intervention, a great breaking off of the judgments of God, and in the Beloved I can be safe. The hands that were nailed to the tree are the same hands of grace and goodness that are extended to the whole world, and it reaches even unto me.”

I hope you’ll go home and read chapters 15 & 16 of Isaiah. Jesus came to bring us to God, to give us God’s mercy if we would have it.

Isaiah 16:5 (KJV)  And in mercy shall the throne be established: and he shall sit upon it in truth in the tabernacle of David, judging, and seeking judgment, and hasting righteousness.

There is hope for all in Christ. Jesus gave Himself so that no one need live diminished lives.

In another Book of Scripture a Moabite woman loses her husband to death, but stays with her aging mother in law. When her mother in law tells her she can go free this woman named Ruth said:

Ruth 1:16 (NKJV) Entreat me not to leave you, Or to turn back from following after you; For wherever you go, I will go; And wherever you lodge, I will lodge; Your people shall be my people, And your God, my God.

Ruth put her faith in God, so God put her in His Family. When Jesus Christ’s family tree is mentioned, Ruth is in that tree (see Matthew 1:5). Jesus Christ is the place of beginning again. He is a wonderful Savior and Lord. Follow Him, dear One. Follow Him. Let Him have your burdens. Moab held on to his burden. You need not do so. Give it all to Him.