God Heals Nations - Isaiah 12-17

 Isaiah 16:5 (ESV)

5 then a throne will be established in steadfast love,

and on it will sit in faithfulness

in the tent of David

one who judges and seeks justice

and is swift to do righteousness.”

Hope for the Nations

The story unfolding in Isaiah 15-16 is Isaiah’s prophecy about Israel’s (Judah’s) neighbor to the east: Moab.   The relationship between Israel and Moab is a constant battle you might observe between in-laws.   The history goes back to the time of Abraham and Lot (Genesis 19) and extends through this time of Isaiah’s ministry.   There are plenty of bad stories in the history of the two nations.   However, there is one good story.   The story of Ruth.  Ruth was a Moabite (Ruth 1:1-4).   Ruth marries Naomi’s son, who eventually dies.  Ruth travels back to Judah with Naomi and marries Boaz.   When we study the genealogy of Christ, we read this:

Matthew 1:5-6 (ESV)

5 and Salmon the father of Boaz by Rahab, and Boaz the father of Obed by Ruth, and Obed the father of Jesse, 6 and Jesse the father of David the king.

And David was the father of Solomon by the wife of Uriah,

It must have been strange, in the middle of a prophecy of destruction on their enemy, Moab, for Israel to hear a prophecy (above verse) about a king (the Messiah ... Christ) rising out of Moab, that will sit on the throne of David and rule with justice and faithfulness!   The Moabites were an arch rival.  The prophecy of Isaiah against them was well warranted.  However, in the midst of the prophecy against the enemy the prophet gives a blessing about the coming Messiah.  This shows us the reason for the need of Christ.   The Messiah was God’s Son, sent to heal the nations.   In fact, that is the entire point of the plan of God.  Note what we see about heaven:

Revelation 22:2 (ESV)

2 through the middle of the street of the city; also, on either side of the river, the tree of life with its twelve kinds of fruit, yielding its fruit each month. The leaves of the tree were for the healing of the nations.

In the end, God will heal all the sin in the world through Christ.   He will “heal the nations.”  Moab’s sin against Israel, as per Isaiah’s prophecy, is a true point.  But, God’s plan is to take a remnant and heal.   That is the point of the Messiah.   Isaiah is full of God’s wrath on the nations.  But, sown into the fabric of Isaiah’s prophecy are these threads of hope and salvation.  That is God’s story.  In the midst of pain and suffering, God sends His son to rule in justice and in faithfulness and out of steadfast love. That was hope for Israel, for Moab and for us.    God will heal the nations.