Read: Obadiah
This short
book tells us that the nations whom oppose Israel and God’s people will
experience judgment. The first half of
the book addresses Edom, pronouncing coming judgment. The Edomites descended from Esau who was
Jacob’s twin brother. Esau had the
birthright, but in a moment of hunger, he sold it to the opportunistic Jacob
(Gen. 25:27-34). Later Jacob tricked Esau out of their father's blessing (Gen.
27) and fled when he found out that Esau was planning revenge. Years later they
met and reconciled but the wound was never completely healed leading to rivalry
between these two nations. The prophet
Obadiah told that nations were rising up against Edom, as directed by the
Lord. Edom was a small insignificant
nation but had been prideful, gloating over Judah. Unlike burglars, who take just want they want,
this country will be pillaged with nothing remaining; they will even lose their
land. Edom is being judged for the way
they treated Israel (v. 10). They did
not come to the aid of their brother nation when Israel was being invaded. Verses 12-14 list a series of “do not”
statements which spell out Edom’s behaviour.
Obadiah’s call was for Edom to stop treating Israel this way before it would
be too late. God gave a rationale for
His punishment of Edom in verse 15, “as
you have done, it shall be done to you.” Verse 18 clearly shows how Edom’s
defeat was certain and that there would be no survivors. The final verses of the book speak of the
return of the exiles from far away as they repossess the Promised Land.
Prayer and Journaling
1. The
Edomites had taken advantage of the invasion of Jerusalem for their own
profit. Ask the Lord to show you how we
should respond to other people’s misfortunes.
2. Have
you ever been tempted to gloat over someone’s downfall? Confess this as sin and ask the Lord how you
can make restitution. Is there a
struggling person in your life whom you can show sympathy and mercy towards?
3. The
Edomites have disappeared from the world today showing Obadiah’s prophecy as
fulfilled. God took His time to fulfill
this prophecy because He is slow to anger but when He says He will do something
then He does it. Edom is gone today and
Israel is back in her land. What does
this tell you about God?
