Read Jeremiah 48
There are many names and places in the Bible that we read about yet know very little about. Moab is one such place and people group. The Moabites began their existence when Lot had union with his eldest daughter. Genesis 19:37 shows what happened in that situation without emotion or comment as the people seek to continue their family line.
Moab thus existed before the Hebrew Exodus from Egypt but in the journey to Mt Sinai they met the people of Israel. When Israel sought permission to travel along ‘the King’s Highway’ which crossed the plateau, Moab blatantly and heartlessly refused (Jdg. 11:17). Moses was forbidden to attack Moab despite their unfriendliness because of the link to and promises to Lot (Deut. 2:9). The Moabites, in return, were to be excluded from Israel (Deut. 23:3–6; Neh 13:1).
Later the Moabite king, King Balak called the prophet Balaam to curse Israel because he was afraid of their growth and potential power.
In the days of the Judges, Eglon, King of Moab, invaded Israelite lands as far as Jericho and oppressed Israel for 18 years. Ehud the Benjaminite assassinated him (Jdg. 3:12–30). Elimelech of Bethlehem migrated to Moab and his sons married Moabite women, Orpah and Ruth. Ruth later married Boaz and became the ancestress of the great King David (Ru. 4:18–22; Mt. 1:5–16).
Saul warred with the Moabites (1 Sa. 14:47) and David lodged his parents there while he was a fugitive (1 Sa. 22:3–4). Later David subdued Moab and set apart many Moabites for death (2 Sa. 8:2, 12; 1 Ch. 18:2, 11).
(see J. A. Thompson, “Moab, Moabites,” ed. D. R. W. Wood et al., New Bible Dictionary (Leicester, England; Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity Press, 1996), 776).
In Jeremiah 48 God pronounces judgement upon this once great nation. Even more so, we are given reasons for the judgment.
Vs 7 – she trusted in her deeds and riches.
Vs 13 – she was proud of her god Chemosh.
Vs 26-27, 42 – she has defied the Lord by ridiculing Israel
Vs 29 – she was proud, arrogant and haughty.
Vs 35 – she made offerings and burned incense to false gods
But our God is a gracious and loving God. He is a God of mercy and compassion. Even though the judgement is fierce and unrelenting
we read another note of hope at the end of the chapter. In 48:47 God declares
“Yet I will restore the fortunes of Moab
in days to come,
declares the LORD.”
Somehow God will reverse the judgment and bring blessing. We’ll see how that happens on Sonday.
Prayer:
Using today’s Bible passage and notes write down points for
Adoration:
Confession
Thanks
Supplication:
· There are many people that don’t know the love and grace of the Lord God Almighty. They are currently living in condemnation. Pray that God would send His messengers of grace to these people and that they would repent and believe in Jesus for salvation.
· Pray particularly for the people of Nepal, India, Iran and Iraq and all of Africa .
· Pray for the nations of the Americas, both north and south.
1. Why do you think the note of judgement against Moab ends with a note of hope?
2. What does that note of hope mean for the church, this side of the cross of Christ Jesus?
3. As you read this Judgement of the Nations in Jeremiah 46-49 which nations have a note of hope and which don’t? Can you see any reason for this?
One on One
In 1955, Brother Andrew made it his mission to distribute Bibles to Christians without easy access to God's Word. Now in his 80s, Brother Andrew continues to serve the Persecuted Church, along with a large team, referred to as 'Open Doors.'
In 1955, a young Dutch missionary went on a group tour to Poland, at that time a part of the Soviet block. There he discovered a remnant of the Body of Christ desperately in need of Bibles, support and prayer. Brother Andrew (as he would later be known) distributed a suitcase full of Bibles and Christian literature, making the humble beginnings of Open Doors.
Over the years he endured dangerous border crossings and KGB (Soviet Secret Service) pursuits, and other life threatening challenges.
Through the work of the Holy Spirit, Brother Andrew's small Dutch mission became an international ministry with offices in 27 countries, working in more than 60 countries to strengthen the Persecuted Church.
It is estimated Brother Andrew has visited 125 countries in his travels to preach and befriend those in need. During his trips, he said he never had a Bible confiscated and was arrested only three times.
Brother Andrew feels passionately that the rapid spread of Islam could be, by far, the greatest challenge the Christian Church worldwide has faced yet. His friendships and the love of God have taken Brother Andrew into private meetings with leaders of Hamas, Islamic Jihad, and Hezbollah. He is among the few Western leaders to regularly travel to the Middle East as an ambassador for Christ to these groups.
Brother Andrew's work through Open Doors has led the organisation into places where most Christians are unwilling to go. His underground network of indigenous Christians has aided in the secret distribution of millions of Bibles each year.
see https://www.opendoors.org.au/aboutus/brandrewstory/
Even when humanity turned rebelliously against God, He still kept to His original plan. Abram was called and was given a great blessing. Through Him blessing would come to the entire world.
The nation of Israel was formed from the offspring of Abraham. This nation was called to be a kingdom of priests and a holy nation. She was to be the light for the world that brought God’s blessing and salvation to the ends of the earth. But as we have seen throughout Jeremiah, God’s people have continued in stiff necked rebellion. Not only have they failed to reach the nations but they have turned from the one true living God to worship the false gods of the nations.
When Jesus came onto the scene several hundred years later, He came with the same global focus that God originally had. He came to call Israel back to God but also to call sheep from another pen. The people of God would now consist of Jews and Gentiles dwelling together in the House of the Lord.
The church today has been given the same global mantle from the Lord. If we fail to have a global vision and passion then we stand in direct contrast to the command of our Lord and Saviour and also to the mega plan of God which began way back in Genesis 1.
Personal Questions
1. How’s your prayer life?
2. Describe your current thought life?
3. How’s your relationship with your spouse or your parents?
4. Discuss how and if you’ve struggled with sin/temptation this week.
5. How are you worshipping God through work, family and social networks?
that God would give you a great sense of desire and passion to see entire nations converted to the Lord by faith.
that your church would be passionate about reaching the nations with the gospel and that they would be active in missions to the world.
1. Why should a Christian concern him/herself with the evangelisation of the nations?
2. Not every Christian is called to be a missionary to the nations but every believer is called to be concerned for them. How can that concern be expressed outside of direct mission to the nations?
3. How are you and how is your church putting that into practice?
4. What can you do to grow a passion for the nations in your cell, your church, your denomination?
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