I’m studying Isaiah now and found something really cool.
In ch 13-27, Isaiah mostly prophesies about nations surrounding Israel. And most of the news is…well, not good.
For example, God promises to break the pride of Moab (a common prophetic word among the nations):
“We have heard of the pride of Moab–how proud he is–
of his arrogance, his pride, and his insolence;…
Therefore let Moab wail for Moab,
let everyone wail.”Isaiah 16:6
What we see is that God was dealing with Moab’s pride (and therefore prideful actions) as a nation. But with this breaking of Moab, God also has another piece of his heart for the nation.
While Moab is being condemned for its pride as a nation, within the nation, there are people who God has deep compassion for. Look at what the chapter also contains:
“My heart cries out for Moab; her fugitives flee to Zoar.”
Isaiah 15:5
“Let the outcasts of Moab sojourn among you; be a shelter to them form the destroyer
Isaiah 16:4
I found it so fascinating that two things are going on–God is pronouncing judgment on the nation as a whole, but God is also administering compassion to broken people within it.
Are those things contradictory? No, it’s just that God is operating from a place of holistic judgment.
He can see the big picture, but is careful enough to deal with individuals within as well.
