Sat.’s Devo - The Free Gift

Read: Isaiah 15:1-18:7; Galatians 1:1-24; Psalm 58:1-11; Proverbs 23:12
Isaiah saw the fate of Moab. The Moabites were the result of Lot’s daughters getting him drunk to carry on his line through them. One of his daughters had Moab and the other Amon. The Moabites had a long history of not being friendly toward the Israelites. But it was in the land of Moab that Moses climbed the mountain of Nebo to see the promised land before he died on that same mountain. It was the land of Moab that gave us Ruth in whose line came the Messiah. It was Balak, the king of Moab that hired Balaam to curse the Israelites when they passed by their land. God was bringing the curse they had wanted to put on the Israelites back on them. It would come by the hands of the Assyrians. Moabites would attempt to find refuge in the land of Judah but there would be no rescue for them until Messiah came. He would come to rescue the world. This prophecy concerning their destruction would come in exactly three years.
Then Isaiah prophesied about Damascus, the capital of Aram or Syria. Damascus and the land of Ephraim were destined to fall. In desperation, Judah would turn back to the Lord for help. All of their idols and shrines will be torn down and they would find no comfort from their false gods. The people would flee panic-stricken to other nations and many would make boats to go to Ethiopia, Cush, and lower Egypt for refuge. In all this destruction and chaos, God would be wooing his people back to him.
At the church in Galatia the people had been led astray by people who came in after Paul left and taught them that it took more than faith to be saved. You had to be circumcised also. Paul called this teaching “another gospel” because it made salvation a work of the flesh. It is by faith that we are saved and was nothing to do with ourselves.
Paul reminded them of his own testimony and how great he was in the eyes of man but he gave it all up to learn and teach the truth. Salvation was never meant to be earned but is the free gift of God.
Lord, help us to remember the simplicity of faith yet its power to save. Thank you that your Word never fails or disappoints.