Isaiah 16:6-14 – Pride guarantees one’s downfall

In Isaiah 16:6-11, the prophet pointed to the pride of Moab. That was their main problem. In her pride, she boasted ignorantly. There is something about pride. It blinds people from knowing who they truly were and made them think of themselves more highly than they should. The pride of  Moab resulted in them having a false sense of security. Since pride always has its repercussion, the people of Moab would experience some sad outcomes. Each outcome was introduced by the connective “therefore.”

One outcome was the destruction of the vineyard where the economy of Moab would be affected. The “raisin cakes” referred to were not cakes baked with raisins but rather raisins being pressed into a whole lump like a cake then be put up for sales or exported. So the raisin cake of Kir- Hareseth represents their prosperity. So badly would their prosperity be affected that they would be wailing. The other thing that would affect their prosperity would be the destruction of their vineyards which were cultivated for wine production. The Lord would destroy them by trampling and destroying their choice clusters.  

Another outcome described in verses 9-10 was expressed by the grief Isaiah felt for the plight that Moab would experience. Instead of a joyful celebration during harvest, there would be nothing to celebrate about. In the destruction of the vineyards by the invasion, they could no longer produce wine. Harvest time was usually a time of joy where wine treaders would trample on the harvested grapes to produce wine. There would no longer be such a joyful celebration as the vineyards would be destroyed and no treaders available to tread the grapes. With the destruction of the vineyards, the production of wine would cease. In place of joy, there would be bitter wailing and tears. God was the one that would cause their celebration to cease. 

In verses 11-12, the prophet described his deep anguish for Moab. He felt like a harp tuned to a mournful pitch. e The people of Moab would weary themselves out going to their high places imploring for help. Their cries would largely go unheeded. Verses 13-14 said that within three years the destruction would happen. The prophet was basically saying that in a short while all that was foretold would take place and “the glory of Moab will be degraded along with all his great population, and his remnant will be very small and impotent.”

Moab in her pride had not rightly appraised herself. Her people in their ignorance boasted needlessly. This was also how the church in Laodicea in Revelation 3:17 evaluated themselves. In their pride, they said, “I am rich, and have become wealthy, and have need of nothing.” But the Lord saw it differently. He said of them, but “…you do not know that you are wretched and miserable and poor and blind and naked.” We take away a lesson on the danger of pride. It has a way of blinding us and making us think that we know better than God. Pride is a sure way to destruction. Do not let pride come in the way to destroy the destiny we have in God. Always stay humble before Him. Be wise!