God is the God of Love and Wrath - Isaiah 12-17

Isaiah 16:10-14 (ESV)

And joy and gladness are taken away from the fruitful field,

and in the vineyards no songs are sung,

no cheers are raised;

no treader treads out wine in the presses;

I have put an end to the shouting.

Therefore my inner parts moan like a lyre for Moab,

and my inmost self for Kir-hareseth.

And when Moab presents himself, when he wearies himself on the high place, when he comes to his sanctuary to pray, he will not prevail.

This is the word that the LORD spoke concerning Moab in the past. But now the LORD has spoken, saying, “In three years, like the years of a hired worker, the glory of Moab will be brought into contempt, in spite of all his great multitude, and those who remain will be very few and feeble.”

Isaiah has a tough gig.   His role, given to him by God (read again Isaiah 6) is to proclaim God’s wrath on the nations that do not fear the Lord.   This will not only include all the nations surrounding Israel, but on Israel as well.   Often readers think that the Old Testament is God, the God of Wrath and the New Testament is God, the God of Love.   But, this is not the case.  God’s wrath and love can be seen in each of the testaments.   In the case of Isaiah 12-17 we read this.   In chapter 12 we read God love for Israel and His willingness to forgive them and restore them:

Isaiah 12:2-3 (ESV)

“Behold, God is my salvation;

I will trust, and will not be afraid;

for the LORD GOD is my strength and my song,

and he has become my salvation.”

With joy you will draw water from the wells of salvation.

But in the above passage we read that God is also the God of wrath.  The above lines of Isaiah’s prophecy are utter against the nation of Moab.   They tormented Israel at every turn of their days.   They never showed mercy toward God’s people.  Isaiah’s prophecy indicates that God is going to pour His wrath out on them in exactly three years.  Moab will pray, but God will not hear them.   God is not obligated to hear the prayers of those who do not fear Him.   Those who come to God must believe that HE IS GOD.

Hebrews 11:6 (ESV)

And without faith it is impossible to please him, for whoever would draw near to God must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who seek him.

Moab rejected God and must endure His wrath.  God is a God of Love and Wrath.   You cannot have one without the other.   Those who, by faith, come to God experience His love and His salvation.  Those who reject God experience is wrath and judgment.