Moab was a kingdom situated on the plateau east of the Dead Sea, between the Arnon and Zered rivers. Its people descended from Moab, a son born from the union of Lot and his older daughter after the destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah.
Despite this origin marked by shame, the territory of Moab appeared many times in biblical history, almost always at decisive moments for the people of God.
It was on the plains of Moab that Israel camped before crossing the Jordan toward Canaan. There King Balak tried to hire the prophet Balaam to curse the people of God, and there Moses climbed Mount Nebo to view the promised land before he died.
Centuries later, a family from Bethlehem sought refuge from famine in Moab. A young Moabite woman named Ruth joined the people of God by faith and became the great-grandmother of King David, and thus an ancestor of Jesus.
The story of Moab shows that God can transform even an origin stained by sin, including foreigners within his plan of salvation when they respond with faith.
