關於摩押的預言：當戰勝內心的巨人-驕傲（賽15-16章）

我們聽說摩押人驕傲、是極其驕傲、聽說他狂妄、驕傲、忿怒、他誇大的話、是虛空的。因此、摩押人必為摩押哀號．人人都要哀號．你們摩押人要為吉珥哈列設的葡萄餅哀歎、極其憂傷。（賽 16：6-7）

以賽亞書15-16章記載神對摩押滅亡的預言，歷史上的摩押人來自於羅得之女的後裔，是淫亂的後代，卻是極其驕傲。如今的摩押人已沒有專屬的國家與民族存在，只留下當時他們曾經擁有的領土，就是在今日的約旦國境內，但是他們的民族已消失、或融合在阿拉伯民族之中，不復存在，成就了神的預言。

摩押人被滅絕的原因，主要是因為他們極其驕傲，而且很兇暴、易怒，聖經這裡說他們所說誇大的話，竟是虛空的，也就是都是謊話，不是真的有能力。但有時候也為他們所擁有的一些「真的」成就而驕傲，就是「吉珥哈列設的葡萄餅」，應該是當時赫赫有名的名產。

聖經中不斷地提醒：「神阻擋驕傲的人」，因此，只要心中出現了驕傲，就是神優先阻擋的人。一旦達到「極其驕傲」的程度，這時就神執行毀滅的時候。

人往往有了一些成就，如某頂大畢業、某知名公司服務、某高階主管、某領域的權威等等，然後就四處張揚，高舉自己的名，任意讓內心的巨人「驕傲」變得無比巨大。這時說話大聲了，於是「狂妄、驕傲、憤怒、誇大的話」的態度湧現出來。

魔鬼要扳倒神的工人，方法往往也是讓人的工人驕傲。當神的工人不願意先捨己才進入事奉的行列時，這時一點點的自我意識，都會被魔鬼所利用，逐漸長大成人，甚至變成巨人，變得極其驕傲。人一驕傲，神就阻擋他，接著神本來賜給他為了完成神任務的恩賜，將一一被收回，他將先失去能力，接著還要被棄絕，消滅。

摩押人朝見的時候、在高處疲乏、又到他聖所祈禱、也不蒙應允。這是耶和華從前論摩押的話。（賽 16：12-13）

神所用的人一旦被棄絕，即使是再強壯的勇士都將疲乏、失去能力，因為原本強大的工作能力皆為神所賜。這時，即使向神禱告，因為內心的驕傲未除，神也不垂聽。

因此主耶穌一再提醒我們，不捨己、不背著自己的十字架跟從祂，不配做祂的門徒。所以一旦心中有一點點自我的私慾出現未消滅，就要立即釘死他，千萬不要讓驕傲在內心長成巨人。

不背着他的十字架跟從我的、也不配作我的門徒。（太 10：38）

於是叫眾人和門徒來、對他們說、若有人要跟從我、就當捨己、背起他的十字架來跟從我。（可 8：34）

凡不背着自己十字架跟從我的、也不能作我的門徒。（路 14：27）

凡屬基督耶穌的人、是已經把肉體、連肉體的邪情私慾、同釘在十字架上了。（加 5：24） 

但我斷不以別的誇口、只誇我們主耶穌基督的十字架．因這十字架、就我而論、世界已經釘在十字架上．就世界而論、我已經釘在十字架上。（加 6：14）

By Isaiah Kao

Prophecy Concerning Moab: Overcoming the Giant Within — Pride (Isaiah 15–16)

“We have heard of the pride of Moab, how very proud he is, of his arrogance, his pride, and his fury; his idle boasts are false. Therefore Moab will wail; everyone of Moab will wail. You will mourn for the raisin cakes of Kir-hareseth, utterly stricken.” (Isaiah 16:6–7, NASB 2020)

Isaiah chapters 15–16 record God’s prophecy concerning the destruction of Moab. Historically, the Moabites came from the descendants of Lot’s daughter, a lineage born out of immorality, yet they became exceedingly proud. Today, the Moabites no longer exist as a distinct nation or people. Only the land they once possessed remains, located within present-day Jordan. Their people have disappeared or been assimilated among the Arab peoples, fulfilling God’s prophecy.

The main reason for the destruction of Moab was their extreme pride. They were also violent and easily angered. The Bible says that their boastful words were empty, meaning their claims were false and without real power. Yet at times, they also took pride in certain genuine achievements, such as the famous “raisin cakes of Kir-hareseth,” likely a renowned specialty product in that era.

The Bible continually reminds us that “God is opposed to the proud.” Therefore, whenever pride appears in a person’s heart, that person becomes one whom God actively resists. Once pride reaches the point of being “exceedingly proud,” it becomes the time when God executes judgment and destruction.

People often gain some accomplishments—graduating from a prestigious university, serving in a well-known company, becoming a senior executive, or being recognized as an authority in a certain field, and then begin to exalt themselves everywhere they go. They magnify the giant within called “pride.” At that point, their speech becomes louder, and attitudes of “arrogance, pride, fury, and boastful words” begin to appear.

One of Satan’s common methods for bringing down God’s workers is to make them proud. When a servant of God is unwilling to first deny himself before entering ministry, even a small amount of self-centeredness can be misused by Satan. Gradually it grows, matures, and eventually becomes a giant, leading to extreme pride. Once a person becomes proud, God opposes him. Then the gifts God originally gave him for accomplishing His work will gradually be taken away. First, he loses his ability; afterward, he may even be rejected and destroyed.

“So it will come about when Moab presents himself, when he wearies himself upon his high place and comes to his sanctuary to pray, that he will not prevail. This is the word which the LORD spoke earlier concerning Moab.” (Isaiah 16:12–13, NASB 2020)

Once a person used by God is rejected, even the strongest warrior will grow weary and lose strength, because every ability originally came from God. At that point, even if he prays to God, the Lord will not answer, because the pride within his heart has not been removed.

Therefore, the Lord Jesus repeatedly reminds us that anyone who does not deny himself and take up his cross to follow Him is not worthy to be His disciple. So whenever even a little selfish desire appears within our hearts, we must immediately crucify it. Never allow pride to grow into a giant within us.

“And the one who does not take his cross and follow after Me is not worthy of Me.” (Matthew 10:38, NASB 2020)

“And He summoned the crowd together with His disciples, and said to them, ‘If anyone wants to come after Me, he must deny himself, take up his cross, and follow Me.’” (Mark 8:34, NASB 2020)

“Whoever does not carry his own cross and come after Me cannot be My disciple.” (Luke 14:27, NASB 2020)

“Now those who belong to Christ Jesus crucified the flesh with its passions and desires.” (Galatians 5:24, NASB 2020)

“But far be it from me to boast, except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, through which the world has been crucified to me, and I to the world.” (Galatians 6:14, 

NASB 2020)

By Isaiah Kao