Lesson 10: A Message from Obadiah

"A Nation's Arrogance Toward God"

"The arrogance of your heart has deceived you, You who live in the clefts of the rock, In the loftiness of your dwelling place, Who say in your heart, 'Who will bring me down to earth?' "(Obadiah 3)

Setting the Context

One of the world's longest running feuds eclipses that of the famous Hatfield & McCoy Families. Imagine a 'family' feud that finds its first jostle in a mother's womb and not a bullet whizzing over one's head. (Gen. 25: 21-28) Rebekah's body became the battlefield where the first salvo took place in the conflict between Edom and Israel. Younger brother Jacob, honed his wrestling skills in the womb with a 'vise grip' on his older brother's food which made their births almost simultaneous. He would later use this wrestling move to secure a blessing from an angel. (Gen. 32:24ff) Esau and his brother Jacob were two nations apart as the former was an outdoors man, loved by his father Isaac. Jacob on the other hand was a mama's boy who hung close to the tents learning the cooking trade of his mother and earning her love. Though younger by probably the most in determinant amount of time The hairy red body of Esau would indoctrinate his name sake, Edom ( a territory know for its red rocks) with a disdain for his bother's kindred, Israel, that would continue a rift well beyond his reunion with Jacob (Gen. 33:4ff). And now because of their years of harsh treatment towards God's children, they will be brought low from their lofty dwelling place.

Historical Setting

Edom means "the red region" and the name was probably connected with the "red rocks" that are abundant in the territory (sounds like Razorback colors). It occupied a narrow mountainous strip of territory [mountain peak range up to 5,700 feet) about 100 by 20 miles in dimensions, located on the eastern side of the Palestinian rift valley. The present-day visitor to Petra, which was called ' a rose red city---half as old as time' gets some taste of the ruggedness of this land. The buildings to be seen date from the Roman period, but the site itself is much older. One enters Petra by the Sik, a narrow canyon more than a mile in length with vertical walls often not more than 30 feet apart. It is then obvious what a few men could do against an entire army in holding them off. Out of the cliffs, the Nabateans carved their temples.

Outline of Obadiah

I. The Coming Judgment on Edom (vs. 1-9)
II. Edom Mistreated His Bother (vs. 10-16)
III. Israel's Final Triumph (vs. 17-21)

Some Practical Lessons from Obadiah

The relation of Edom to Israel had been most unfriendly (quarrels between relatives are often bitter).

1. She refused to allow Israel to pass through her land when coming out of Egypt. (Num 20: 14-21)
2. Saul had wars with Edom. (I Sam 14:47)
3. She joined forces with Moab and Ammon against Judaea. (2 Chron 20:22.
4. In the days of Jehoram, Edom revolted against Judah and set up their own king. (2 Chron 21: 8; see also II Kings 8: 20-22)
5. But it was their behavior during the Babylonian period that was most bitterly remembered.

Even though she soars like an eagle and she sits her nest among the stars, she will be brought down. God shows the extend of her destruction when He shows that thieves leave a little behind and grape gatherers leaven the gleanings, but she will be completely destroyed.

In that day Obadiah says (vss 7-9) . . .

• Her allies will betray her
• Her stronghold will fall
• Her wise men
• Her 'mighty men . . .Shall be dismayed"

Obadiah taught that the fall of Edom was because of its cruelty and pride. Her confident pride and arrogance will be her downfall. Her violence against and mistreatment of her brother Judah when Nebuchadnezzar destroyed Jerusalem was the last straw (vss 10-14). The Lord of Host will have His day of reckoning and Edom will receive the reward of her own deeds, while the house of Judah which she despises will be restored to her land (vss 15-21).

Obadiah leaves these insights for us to consider in our relationship with God and one another:

1. Human defenses are utterly useless when the power of God comes against them;
2. Ridicule is always bad for it reveals a low human pride that means an utter lack of brotherly love;
3. Eternal justice will prevail;
4. Pride goes before destruction and a haughty spirit before a fall.

The great lesson of sin seen in this prophetic book is that the chief element of sin is "Pride" (Obadiah 3c). Its chief manifestation is "Mistreatment" of others as seen in Edom's treatment of his bother. Its’ final issue is "Retribution" as we shall reap what we sow (Obadiah 15b).

"Hate silences the voices of compassion, blinds the soul's vision, corrupts the social fabric, inflicts needless grief and dismay on innocent multitudes, and consigns the political systems founded by it to self-wrought destruction---No nation is defensible if it presumes to limit either God's love and righteousness or our own moral obligations"
(Cadmad, The Prophet of Israel, p. 149).

Some Final Observations

Living in a large city like New York, one can almost become callous to the needs of folks around you. It's so easy to believe and sometimes soothing to one's own conscience to convince yourself that people are in the state they're in because they choose to be. Sadly, even Christians can often forget the lesson presented by Mordecai. "that we have been placed here for such as time like this" (Esth 4:14). Edom refused to help her brother, Judah, with her problems as we often forget that we are our brother's keeper here in the 21st century.

* Just how many today refused to get involved?

It's one thing not to want to risk limb and get involved in the desperate lives of others, but to rejoice in their misfortunes like Edom did Judah takes us to another level (Rom 1:32). Genuine 'love' will not allow us to 'rejoice in iniquity' (I Cor 13:6a) and Christians today must learn to suffer with those that suffer and rejoice with those that rejoice. (I Cor 12:26).

* What about our reluctance to be God's spokesman when others need to be confronted with His Truth.

Is it a sin to be 'neutral' when it comes to upholding God's standards? When you see the results of sin in the lives of peoples and nations, is it right for Christians and the Lord's Church to sit idle and allow Satan to continue his onslaught unchecked?

* How does the message of Obadiah affect your ministry to your brethren who are being chastened by God?

- Bill Johnson

(Bill Johnson, Minister, Springfield Gardens Church of Christ)