Obadiah is a great book because it gives us a glimpse of the way God protects His children. God judges those who harm His people. In the shortest book of the Old Testament, Obadiah gives God’s message to the Edomites – the descendants of Esau. Just like their founding ancestor they were rugged, fierce, and proud warriors. It didn’t matter that they were blood relatives of the people of Israel, they gloated over Israel’s problems. They participated in attacks against Judah, captured Israel’s fugitives and delivered them to the enemy, and even looted Israel’s countryside! As we look at the book of Obadiah, let it refresh you, and let it give you a glimpse of what it means to be an adopted child of God. See how the heavenly Father responds to all who would attack those whom He loves…The Lord says to Edom, “I will cut you down to size among the nations; you will be greatly despised. You have been deceived by your own pride because you live in a rock fortress and make your home high in the mountains. ‘Who can ever reach us way up here?’ you ask boastfully.
But even if you soared as high as eagles and built your nest among stars, I would bring you crashing down,” says the Lord.
This is very interesting to me because years ago, I remember a friend of mine came back from a trip to the Middle East showing me pictures from a visit to the ruins of Petra. Petra was Edom’s rock forest home in the mountains spoken of in the above scripture! Petra is considered one of the marvels of the ancient world, but only as a tourist attraction. People today are very much the same as people in Obadiah’s day, filled with arrogance, envy, and dishonesty. The Bible constantly warns us that pride is the surest route to self-destruction. We can be sure, that just as Petra and Edom fell, so will proud people fall Proverbs 16: 18 – “Pride goes before destruction, and haughtiness before a fall.”
“The day is near when I, the Lord, will judge all godless nations! As you have done to Israel, so it will be done to you. All your evil deeds will fall back on your own heads.
Just as you swallowed up my people on my holy mountain, so you and the surrounding nations will swallow the punishment I pour out on you. Yes, all you nations will drink and stagger and disappear from history.” Obadiah 1: 15-16
Edom wasn’t the only nation to rejoice at Judah’s fall. All nations and individuals will be judged for the way they have treated God’s people. Let’s look at what Jesus has to say about this…
“But when the Son of Man comes in his glory, and all the angels with him, then he will sit upon his glorious throne. All the nations will be gathered in his presence, and he will separate the people as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats. He will place the sheep at his right hand and the goats at his left.
Then the King will say to those on his right, ‘Come, you who are blessed by my Father, inherit the Kingdom prepared for you from the creation of the world. For I was hungry, and you fed me. I was thirsty, and you gave me a drink. I was a stranger, and you invited me into your home. I was naked, and you gave me clothing. I was sick, and you cared for me. I was in prison, and you visited me.” Matthew 25: 31-36
