6 of 8 I will not relent

“The Lord says: I will not relent from punishing Moab for three crimes, even four, because he burned the bones of the king of Edom to lime. Therefore, I will send fire against Moab, and it will consume the citadels of Kerioth. Moab will die with a tumult, with shouting and the sound of the ram’s horn. I will cut off the judge from the land and kill all its officials with him. The Lord has spoken.”

‭‭Amos‬ ‭2:1-3‬ ‭HCSB‬‬

https://bible.com/bible/72/amo.2.1-3.HCSB

Who is Moab? The most noteworthy Moabite is Ruth, after all, she gets her own book, and is mentioned in the lineage of David and Jesus. You know the story of Ruth if not read her book today it is only 4 chapters long. Moab was located along the southern tribe of Judah and the dead sea. 

But there is a deeper history of Moab. Moab was also born to Lot by the older daughter. 

“The firstborn gave birth to a son and named him Moab. He is the father of the Moabites of today.”

‭‭Genesis‬ ‭19:37‬ ‭HCSB‬‬

https://bible.com/bible/72/gen.19.37.HCSB

The Israelites traveled around Moab with Moses. Balak was king over Moab when he summoned Balaam to curse them for him, which turned into a blessing. A plague broke out because Balak sent Moab women to have relations with the Israeli men, at the direction of Balaam. Later in the time of the exile, God would cry for the nation as he would Israel. 

“Therefore, I will wail over Moab. I will cry out for Moab, all of it; he will moan for the men of Kir-Heres.”

‭‭Jeremiah‬ ‭48:31‬ ‭HCSB‬‬

https://bible.com/bible/72/jer.48.31.HCSB

So what was Moab's major crime? He burned the bones of the king of Edom to lime. But wait Edom is not Israel or Judah and was number 4 of 8 in these I will not relent passages. So why is God punishing a nation for punishing a king under God’s punishment? 

A popular thought is that they did not have respect for human life because they burned the king to lime and then used that lime to decorate their walls and not buried him properly afterward. 

“I was angry with My people; I profaned My possession, and I placed them under your control. You showed them no mercy; you made your yoke very heavy on the elderly. These two things will happen to you suddenly, in one day: loss of children and widowhood. They will happen to you in their entirety, in spite of your many sorceries and the potency of your spells.”

‭‭Isaiah‬ ‭47:6, 9‬ ‭HCSB‬‬

https://bible.com/bible/72/isa.47.6-9.HCSB

God sent a punishment to Babylon because they treated Judah wickedly. As Babylon was judged so also Moab will be judged. We too are not to follow their example. When we see our enemies in hurt we are to help and not kick them when they are down. 

“But I tell you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, so that you may be sons of your Father in heaven. For He causes His sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous. For if you love those who love you, what reward will you have? Don’t even the tax collectors do the same? And if you greet only your brothers, what are you doing out of the ordinary? Don’t even the Gentiles do the same? Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect.”

‭‭Matthew‬ ‭5:44-48‬ ‭HCSB‬‬

https://bible.com/bible/72/mat.5.44-48.HCSB