Our reading today is pretty intense. Isaiah prophesies over numerous things that will come to take place in Egypt, Ethiopia, Moab, Damascus, and Israel. Prophecy about destruction, growth, feast and famine. Yet, in the midst of these intense verses, my mind could only focus on one thing: cake.

Some of you may know, I have a passion for cooking. Yet, my passion does not stop at simply cooking the perfect steak or baking the perfect muffin. I also love food history. One of my favorite books I own is called The History of Food. It breaks down the origins of food from prehistory to the invention of the assembly line, and I love all of it. I am fascinated with how certain dishes became kitchen staples, and how some strange dishes fell out of fashion. Hence why my interest peaked when I read this verse: “The entire land of Moab weeps. Yes, everyone in Moab mourns for the cakes of raisins from Kir-hareseth. They are all gone now.”

Now, for a prophecy discussing the destruction of a city to mention how said they will be over no more cake, these things must have been pretty tasty, right? Well, these cakes may not be exactly what you’re thinking. In fact, these “cakes” weren’t fluffy white sweets covered in icing or anything resembling a pasty. Instead, they were disks of raisins pressed together in a type of puck. As you can imagine, in a culture where sugar was scarce and only really available through honey or fruits, these raisin cakes were quite valuable. So valuable that they were often used as sacrifices and offerings to idols. They were seen as a luxury item amongst the upper class as well.

So, when the Bible talks about the Moabs weeping over their raisin cakes, they aren’t simply weeping over the loss of a delicacy, but of their lifestyle. Their lifestyle of idol worship, luxury, and leisure. A lifestyle that is self-centered. These raisin cakes symbolize the hedonism of those people who refused to worship God, but instead their own pleasure. Though the Moabs lament the loss of their lifestyle and their cakes, no amount of pleasure seeking can ever satisfy. Our bellies will soon be empty, our attention will wain, and our bodies become tired. Only the Spirit of God can provide the living water that brings true and utter satisfaction.