Westhill Church - Auburn & Federal Way, WA

The WEekly Word

A Blog of Encouragement from our Pastors

weekly word – 6/11/2026

Hello @NAME,

God's Wrath and Sorrow for Moab (Isaiah 15-16)

In 1868, an Anglican missionary in Jordan named Frederick Augustus Klein found a stone monument lying in the ruins of the ancient city of Dhiban. It measured nearly 4 feet long, 2 feet wide, and 1 foot thick. It’s called the Mesha Victory Stele. On it, the Moabite king, Mesha, wrote about the military victories he won in the 9th century.

Israel is named on the stele, "Omri was king of Israel, and oppressed Moab during many days, and Chemosh was angry with his aggressions. His son succeeded him, and he also said, ‘I will oppress Moab’… And Chemosh said to me, ‘Go take Nebo against Israel’, and I went in the night and I fought against it from the break of day till noon, and I took it: and I killed in all 7,000 men, but I did not kill the women and maidens, for I devoted them to Ashtar-Chemosh; and I took from it the vessels of Yahweh, and offered them before Chemosh…”

This wicked man not only destroyed Israelite cities, he slaughtered all their women as an offering to his god, Chemosh. He then took ceremonial worship objects dedicated to Yahweh and laid them before Chemosh, symbolizing Chemosh’s power over Yahweh.

Despite Mesha’s proud contempt for Israel and Yahweh, the Bible agrees with the Mesha Stele on several historical facts:

The Bible confirms Mesha was a real king in Moab. (2 Kings 3:4-5)
Mesha indeed rebelled against Israel after the reigns Omri and his son Ahab because they had imposed such heavy tribute on Moab. (2 Kings 1, 3)
The name of the God of Israel is Yahweh.
The name of Moab’s god is Chemosh. (Numbers 21:29)

In Isaiah 15-16, God brings His wrath on Moab and its many cities. The reason for this judgment is stated in 16:6-7, “We have heard of the pride of Moab, an excessive pride; even of his lofty pride, pride, and fury; His idle boasts are false. Therefore Moab will wail.” Moab’s pride is offensive to God because the nation rejoices in itself and its god over the true God, Yahweh. He cannot allow this to continue.

When did this attack come? And what nation brought it? One clue in the text makes these questions clear. The final verse, Isaiah 16:14 states: “Within three years, as a hired man would count them, the glory of Moab will be dishonored along with all his great population, and his remnant will be very small and not mighty.” Isaiah wrote exclusively during the Assyrian Empire and its rise to power over Israel. Thus, Assyria is God’s chosen nation to bring this judgment.

As the conquest takes place, God vividly describes the wailing and weeping of Moab in 15:2-5. During His severe judgment of Moab, Yahweh is pierced to the heart by their suffering. As they cry, His heart cries for them in 15:5. Even after He rebukes their pride in 16:6 and calls for their destruction, He again weeps bitterly for them and drenches them with tears in 16:9.

Think of that. Despite Moab being a proud, wicked nation that brutalized His own people, Yahweh doesn’t respond heartlessly. He is both full of wrath against their sin and full of compassion for their suffering.

But there is one consolation God offers Moab: one day, a future King from the house of David will reign in lovingkindness and truth (16:5). He will not only bring justice and righteousness, but cause all extortion and destruction to cease (16:5). Of course, this refers back to our hope as well as theirs: the Lord Jesus. Isaiah has already shown that this child will come from the house of David (7:14), grow up in poverty (7:15), reign as king (9:1-7), and expand God’s kingdom over the whole world (11:1-9). Come quickly, Lord Jesus!

Pastor David

6/04/2026 – Essentials of the Gospel – Bryan

5/28/2026 – Isaiah 14 – David

5/21/2026 – Christian Living – Bryan

5/14/2026 – The Destruction of Babylon (Isaiah 13) – David

5/07/2026 – The Lord is My Shepherd – Bryan

4/30/2026 – Introduction to Isaiah 13-35 – David

4/23/2026 – Our Contemplation of God – Bryan

4/16/2026 – The Future Salvation of Israel (Isaiah 12) – David

4/9/2026 – The Wrath of God – Bryan

4/2/2026 – The Messiah's Work (Isaiah 11:6-16) – David

3/26/2026 – The Love of God – Bryan