Obadiah 1:1-9 Edom Humbled
God is disgusted with the nation of Edom. They have overly plundered Judah when it fell. God said Edom would be humbled for their pride.
I tried to look up who the people of Edom are today but came up with some strange answers. The first answer said that they were ‘absorbed’ into the nation of Israel during the second century BC. Another said that, even though the nation didn’t exist any longer, anyone could adopt the “spirit” of the Edomites. I quit looking after that. Suffice to say, the nation of Edom can not be found on a map today, but God knows who, and where, they are.
We aren’t told directly why God is angry with Edom; yet. We will see that answer tomorrow. For now, we are given “Edom’s pride” as the reason for her downfall. She was safe and secure, living among the cliffs. Her natural barriers kept her from enemy attacks and, apparently, she had friends among the surrounding nations. She felt invincible and able to do whatever she wanted.
One thing that God shares with us now is a contrast between ordinary behavior of a thief and robber compared to Edom. A normal thief takes only what is valuable to him. He leaves the rest of the house intact. When Edom ‘attacked’ they left nothing. Like the Grinch who stole Christmas, they took everything but the hooks on the walls.
Even a foreigner coming in to harvest the grapes leaves something behind. When I harvest our apple trees, there is NO WAY I can get every apple without killing myself. Edom’s ‘harvests’ left NOTHING behind. Not even the required gleanings for the poor. God says that Edom will be “pillaged” just as they themselves pillaged.
Edom’s friends will all turn against her too. And they will do to her as she did to Judah. God said that her allies would drive her to her borders through warfare. Not so secure now. And GOD would have them prevail because of their own attitudes and behaviors.
Edom’s pride says “Who can bring me down?” God says “I can and I WILL.”
Our pride can get us into the same predicament as Edom’s. When we think WE can do it all, including be our own savior, we get into a world of hurt! God just might show us how far off that attitude is. Give your future to God and let HIM be your salvation AND Savior. THIS humbling is a position of strength! A position I ALWAYS want to occupy.
Father God, forgive me for my prideful times in life. I KNOW I cannot stand without You. Please don’t let me hurt others. Make me Your instrument of peace instead Father. YOU be my fortress and safety.
