Digging Trenches

There is an interesting piece of history recorded in 2 Kings 3. It caught my attention this week because of the Iranian-backed Hamas bombings of Israel that are dominating international news. I am reminded that the “unrest” that plagues the Middle East has its roots far back in the region’s history. The conflict began when God sent Abraham to what became known as the promised land but told him he could not possess it yet because, “the guilt of the Amorites is not yet complete.” Reading between the lines leads me to think that God was going to use Israel to punish the Amorites for their sins.

The term “Amorites” may be unfamiliar; it is synonymous with Canaanites, referring to the inhabitants of Canaan which God promised to give to Abraham. The area was called Canaan because it was originally the land occupied by Noah’s grandson, the fourth son of Ham, Canaan. God’s apparent displeasure with all the sons of Ham is better understood when you take a global/cosmic view of things. Faithlife Study Bible explains it: “While the idea of divinely sanctioned warfare involving the wholesale destruction of towns and cities appears troublesome, Yahweh authorizes the invasion as judgment on the Canaanites for their wickedness (Dt 9:4–6; Ge 15:16). The wickedness of the Canaanite nations is partly rooted in the idea that all of these nations had rejected Yahweh and were under the authority of other divine beings—so-called “sons of god” who rule unjustly (compare Deut 32:8; Psa 82:1–2, 6–7). Israel is under the authority of Yahweh alone (Deut 4:19–20). Over and against these other divine beings, Yahweh is laying claim to what is rightfully His (Deut 32:9). This is a war against the people and the nations that worship other gods (compare Num 13:32–33).”

Now to the record in 2 Kings. The bad guys in this instance are the Moabites, one of the nations falling under the Canaanite/Amorite curse. The nation was founded by the descendants of the incestuous relationship between Lot and his daughters. They were never particularly kind to God’s chosen people. In 2 Kings 3, Moab refuses to continue the tribute it had been giving to King Ahab of Israel, inciting his son, Joram, who had ascended to the throne, to attack Moab. Joram enlisted Jehoshaphat, king of Judah, and the unnamed ruler of Edom in the effort.

In a questionable stratagem, they chose to approach Moab through the desert of Edom. Not surprisingly, they ran out of water for their men and animals. Jehoshaphat sought to know God’s will in the endeavor, calling for a prophet of Yahweh. Elisha answered the call but asked sarcastically why Joram didn’t get one of his gods to help. Ultimately, Elisha cooperated because Jehoshaphat, a mostly faithful servant of Yahweh, was involved.

As Elisha directed, they dug trenches or cisterns in the valley, and God filled them with water. Thus fortified, the three armies proceeded to defeat Moab with the exception of one city. When the king of Moab stood on the wall during the siege and sacrificed his firstborn son to his patron god, Chemosh, the three armies apparently ran for fear of the pagan god’s wrath despite the demonstration of Yahweh in the trenches of water. According to the Faithlife Study Bible, “This account does not portray a defeat of Yahweh by Chemosh; instead it depicts a defeat of God’s people after they lost faith in Yahweh’s ability. The [Old Testament] portrays the Israelites as believing that the gods of other nations were real. Those gods were originally assigned to the nations by Yahweh (Deut 32:8–9). Given this worldview, which presumes the superiority of Yahweh, it seems that the Israelites were frightened by the human sacrifice, believed that the Moabites’ god was angry, and retreated.”

There are lessons in this account for us today. First, the miracle of God required the humans to participate. Had they not dug trenches, there would not have been a miraculous filling with water. This reminds me of the miracle Jesus performed in Cana. Had the servants not filled the jugs with water, Jesus could not have produced the miraculous wine. Moses had to keep his staff raised to insure the victory of the Israelites against the Amalakites. It’s not uncommon for God to ask for an act of faith before He moves.

The second lesson I see is more cosmic in nature. Since the fall from grace in the Garden of Eden, God has been calling a people to Himself. At first He dealt solely with Israel; now through Jesus He calls people of every nation, tribe and tongue. Reading the closing chapters of the history of redemption, it appears that the nations surrounding physical Israel, the descendants of the Amorites, are still heading for final judgment. When, “the guilt of the Amorites is complete,” God will exterminate every nation that rebels against Him and establish His people as rulers over the new earth.

Opinions differ whether that will take place immediately upon Christ’s second coming, or if there will be a period of 1,000 years before the final act plays out. It matters little. The thing to know is that the unrest in the Middle East is not new nor surprising if you take the cosmic view. I also know that God’s people are going to play a role in the final drama. I don’t know exactly what part I will have to play, but I want to be ready to dig those trenches if I am asked. I recommend you keep your shovels handy.