The prophecy in Zephaniah 2:11 states that one day the Lord will be worshipped by the nations of Moab and Ammon: “The Lord will be awesome against them; for He will reduce to nothing all the gods of the earth; people shall worship Him, each one from his place, indeed all the shores of the nations” (ESV). This prophecy raises the question – when will this worship of the Lord by Moab and Ammon take place? Let’s explore the biblical context.
Background on Moab and Ammon
Moab and Ammon were nations located east of the Jordan River. They were relatives of Israel, descending from Lot through incestuous origins (Genesis 19:30-38). Throughout Israel’s history, Moab and Ammon were often enemies and oppressors:
– Balak, king of Moab, hired Balaam to curse Israel (Numbers 22-24). God prevented the cursing and blessed Israel instead.
– Moab refused passage to Israel through their land (Judges 11:17).
– The Moabites oppressed Israel for 18 years during the time of the judges (Judges 3:12-14).
– Ammon oppressed Israel during Jephthah’s judgeship (Judges 10:7-8).
– Moab and Ammon fought against King Saul (1 Samuel 14:47).
– King David subdued Moab and Ammon during his reign (2 Samuel 8:2, 12).
– Later in Israel’s history, both nations continued hostile actions against God’s people.
So there was a long history of animosity and oppression from Moab and Ammon toward Israel.
The Prophecy in Zephaniah
The prophecy in Zephaniah 2:11 occurs within an oracle against various nations – Philistia, Moab, Ammon, Ethiopia, and Assyria (Zephaniah 2:4-15). These nations are warned of coming judgment, but there is also a future hope. Verse 11 specifically addresses Moab and Ammon:
The Lord will be awesome against them; for He will reduce to nothing all the gods of the earth; people shall worship Him, each one from his place, indeed all the shores of the nations (Zephaniah 2:11 ESV).
Despite their long enmity toward Israel, a day is coming when Moab and Ammon will worship the one true God. Their false gods will be shown as nothing. The Lord alone will be exalted as the nations worship Him. This prophecy envisions a future day when former enemies worship the Lord in truth.
Fulfillment in Biblical History
Is there any indication in Scripture that Moab and Ammon did eventually worship the Lord? A few possible fulfillments are:
1. **Individual conversions:** While Moab and Ammon largely remained pagan nations, individuals from those nations did embrace the God of Israel. For example, Ruth was a Moabite woman who married Boaz, became an ancestor of Christ, and is commended for her faith (Ruth 1:4, 16; Matthew 1:5).
2. **Intermarriage and cultural mixing:** After the exile, Israelites intermarried with surrounding nations, including Moabites and Ammonites. This cultural mixing likely exposed them more to the worship of Yahweh (Ezra 9:1-2; Nehemiah 13:23-27).
3. **Inclusion of foreign nations in the kingdom:** Isaiah 19:23-25 and Zech 14:16-19 prophesy that Egypt, Assyria, and other nations will worship the Lord and be included in His kingdom. This may imply that enemies like Moab and Ammon will also worship Him.
4. **Spread of the gospel to Gentiles:** In the New Testament era, the gospel spread beyond Israel to Gentile nations. People from all nations began worshiping Christ. The few references to Moabites and Ammonites imply that some of them did convert to following Jesus (Acts 2:5; 8:4-25).
So while Scripture does not record a specific national conversion of Moab and Ammon, there are several instances where foreigners and former enemies embraced the Lord. Zephaniah’s prophecy was at least partially fulfilled through individual conversions and the inclusion of the Gentiles in God’s people.
Complete Fulfillment in the Future
However, the complete fulfillment of Moab and Ammon worshiping the Lord seems best to place in the future. Several other prophecies corroborate this:
Isaiah 11:14
Isaiah 11 predicts a peaceful kingdom ruled by the Messiah, Jesus: “They will swoop down on the slopes of Philistia in the west; together they will plunder the people to the east. They will subdue Edom and Moab, and the Ammonites will be subject to them” (Isaiah 11:14 NIV). This implies Moab and Ammon will be under Christ’s rule.
Isaiah 25:10-12
This passage says that Moab will be trampled down like straw is trampled in manure. But ultimately, God will spread out His hands over them, breaking down their pride. This humbling of Moab implies they will submit to God.
Jeremiah 48:47
Jeremiah prophesies judgment against Moab but concludes: “Yet I will restore the fortunes of Moab in days to come” (ESV). The restoration seems to imply Moab’s repentance and return to the Lord.
Ezekiel 25:8-11
This prophecy is against Moab and Ammon for their insults and mockery against Israel. But verse 11 concludes: “I will execute judgments upon Moab. Then they will know that I am the LORD” (NIV). Judgment leads to the knowledge of God.
Daniel 11:41
This difficult end-times passage says: “He will also invade the Beautiful Land. Many countries will fall, but Edom, Moab and the leaders of Ammon will be delivered from his hand” (NIV). If this refers to the Antichrist, it may imply Moab and Ammon will refuse to worship him and suffer his invasion, because they have turned to worshipping the one true God.
Zephaniah 3:9-10
Right after judging the nations, Zephaniah 3:9 envisions a purified people serving God in unity. Even Gentiles are included, which would presumably encompass Moab and Ammon.
So in several prophets, we see that a future remains for Moab and Ammon to worship the Lord. Isaiah 11 seems to place this under the reign of the Messiah, Jesus. The complete fulfillment of Zephaniah 2:11 about Moab and Ammon worshipping Yahweh appears to be future – in the messianic kingdom when Christ rules the nations.
Why This Matters
This prophecy and its fulfillment reveal key truths about God and His plan of redemption:
– God is sovereign over all nations. He can turn enemies of His people into worshippers. No nation or people group is beyond His reach.
– God’s love extends beyond Israel to all nations. He desires people from every tribe and language to worship Him (Revelation 7:9).
– Jesus is the ultimate fulfillment of prophecies about nations worshipping God. His rule and reign brings former enemies into God’s kingdom.
– God patiently waits for the repentance of sinners and extends mercy to them, even those who were once far from Him.
– God’s plans cannot be thwarted. What He says will come to pass, even if it takes centuries and millennia. Prophecies will be fulfilled in God’s timing.
So this ancient prophecy in Zephaniah offers hope of redemption to all peoples. No nation or person is excluded from God’s offer of salvation in Jesus Christ. Moab, Ammon, or any other enemy can become part of Christ’s kingdom when He returns to reign.
Conclusion
Zephaniah 2:11 prophetically envisions a day when Moab and Ammon will worship the one true God, Yahweh. This hope reflects God’s desire for people from all nations to know Him. While individual Moabites and Ammonites embraced the Lord throughout biblical history, the complete fulfillment seems future – in the messianic kingdom when Jesus rules all the nations in peace, righteousness and unity. This offers hope that even the greatest enemies of God’s people can be redeemed and brought into true worship of the Lord. Zephaniah gives us a glimpse into God’s inclusive plan of redemption for people from every tribe, tongue and nation through Jesus Christ the Messiah.