In our culture, everyone seems to have an opinion, a podcast, or an Instagram post. We don’t have a record of every conflicting opinion in Obadiah’s day, but human nature doesn’t change that much, right? Amid all the talk, God speaks to a prophet named Obadiah and lets us hear what GOD was saying. You can argue politics or even television newscasts but who will argue with God?
God lets them know that He is about to cut Edom down. This is the patriarch previously named Esau’s family line. His brother was Jacob who was later called Israel. They fought as young men, and now their family lines are keeping the “beef” going, so to speak.
The people of Edom had luxurious houses high up in the cliffs. We might use the expression living in an “ivory tower” today to represent a similar idea. They thought because they had money or houses or perhaps a stellar lineage that they were better than others. Yikes. God tells them “The pride of your heart has deceived you.” There would be a day of reckoning. This was it.
Pride is defined by being arrogant, presumptive, swelling, haughty and insolent. There’s no room for error with these people and grace is seriously lacking. This is not someone who gives more praise reports than you. This is someone who literally thinks they smell better, look better and are better than others. I’ve met some people who were very prideful about being “humble” and made it their goal in life to point out all the other “unhumble” people. If it weren’t so serious, it would be funny. I’m glad God alone judges hearts. I tell my boys all the time – be short on opinion and long on love.
When I read this passage I thought of the white businessmen in a city I lived in years ago. Their skyscraper offices made them look wealthy. Their lawyer, shielded them and made them look invincible. The story went that they would bring drugs in and “test” it on young black men. If they died, it was a bad batch, it they lived it would be purchased. The businessmen appeared spotless – they had no criminal records, they didn’t look like drug dealers and people thought these young men were “thugs” and “dealers” making the city look bad. Comments were often made about the “problem with young black men” who lived downtown but they didn’t have the full story. It seemed like a good way to evade the arrests and statistics. Until you count the overdosed young people who had moms and dads who loved them. The guys higher up in the drug chain remained untouchable. When it all got exposed, people were shocked who the real “bad guys” really were. Whenever humans think they get away with something – there is a God in Heaven who sees and acts and nothing escapes his watchful eye. Fat cats will have a reckoning as we see in the prophetic book of Obadiah. The Lords Day is coming soon. God is patient and kind but when He sees sin, He gets angry. This book shows us how God feels when His chosen are attacked and it’s not pretty.
The prophecy goes on to explain how mad God is with their trickery. Even thieves leave something for the reapers but these people – they have no mercy at all.
I kept telling my family this book reminds me of those maps at the mall where it points an arrow to your location and says, “You are here”. This book is not only prophetic for their day but it is a current picture of the problems facing Israel today. The timely word is for now.
7 All your allies will force you to the border;
your friends will deceive and overpower you;
those who eat your bread will set a trap for you,
but you will not detect it. (it’s like a smoke alarm without batteries- the warning alarm has been removed)
8 “In that day,” declares the Lord,
“will I not destroy the wise men of Edom,
those of understanding in the mountains of Esau?
9 Your warriors, Teman, will be terrified,
and everyone in Esau’s mountains
will be cut down in the slaughter.
Then God tells them exactly why He is allowing this to come upon them:
10 Because of the violence against your brother Jacob,
(violence in Hebrew is the word Hamas)
you will be covered with shame;(disappointed, troubled)
you will be destroyed forever.
11 On the day you stood aloof (you stood with the other team, ignoring their pain)
while strangers carried off his wealth
and foreigners entered his gates
and cast lots for Jerusalem,
you were like one of them.
God then lists eight crimes Esau (Edom) committed against Israel. God saw what transpired- the real story. They gloated, plotted and rejoiced. If you intentionally harm someone, it does not go unnoticed by the Lord. I’m so glad for the upcoming conjunction BUT….
17 But on Mount Zion will be deliverance;
it will be holy,
and Jacob will possess his inheritance.
To possess means to seize, take control of, inherit and enjoy – it’s a promise of better days coming. There will be deliverance – rescue, salvation and God has promised it. It points to a remnant being rescued. The word picture is of green foliage being kept from locusts and also refers to deliverance from the slaughter of war. Do you need deliverance? Do we need deliverance as a country?
18 Jacob will be a fire ( to see by, warm by, to bring judgement)
and Joseph a flame; (A narrow fire, directed)
Esau will be stubble, (ready to ignite)
and they will set him on fire and destroy him.
There will be no survivors
from Esau.”
The Lord has spoken—period.
While reading this, I read the prophecy – there will be NO survivors. That’s pretty hopeless, isn’t it? Gods judgment totally annihilated that group of people. The newspaper on June 12 shared the story of an Air India flight (AI 171) when a Boeing 787 plane crashed killing 241 of the 242 souls on board. The only survivor was a man named Vishwash Ramesh who must feel incredibly “delivered” or rescued about now. I looked for retractions to the story but so far, there are none. The 40 year old guy escaped with a burnt hand. A burnt hand- that was it. He fell out of the sky and his injury was just a burnt hand. Incredible. But why? That’s almost impossible, right? His name means “one who has faith and trust and causes others to believe”. At the very least, his name is prophetic. The simulations and articles after that day are filled with science and speculation. This guy knows what deliverance means, he understands salvation in a way you and I probably will never comprehend. Does God give us clues like that just to shake us up and make us stretch what we believe? If He has used the Red Sea and a whale could He not now use an airplane to get our attention? It got mine! Only God determines when He’s had “enough” and then judgment. He is not willing that any should perish. That’s pretty intense patience and love.
This book has 21 short verses with over 33 scary or violent words that would make anyone shake in their boots if they knew Gods’ wrath was coming. The truly scary thing is– that Gods wrath is coming for all nations who turn against Him and treat others unfairly. It’s a promise. The day of the Lord is near. But,
God will send deliverers, avengers who will defend, rescue and bring salvation and victory. God promised deliverance and salvation and we see that in the person of Christ. God promises assistance and victory for all who come to His Mount Zion (Place and presence of the Lord) and the added promise that the Kingdom WILL BE the Lords.
21 Deliverers will go up on Mount Zion (place of the Temple and Gods’ presence)
to govern the mountains of Esau.
And the Kingdom WILL BE the Lord’s.
There’s a new sheriff in town. Those who are wise will obey Him and get in line with His Kingdom and word.
That gives hope to any wrongly accused, unfairly treated, cheated, stolen from, maligned person. Your deliverance may not come overnight – but it’s coming. The God who sees is also the God who avenges and brings deliverance. I heard a song on the radio that said you might be in your darkest night but remember the darkest night still ends with a sunrise.
All nations – God doesn’t play favorites but He does expect us to walk in love and with integrity. What is He seeing in our nation? What is God seeing in our lives today? What are others seeing? Are we more like Edom or Israel in our day to day walk?
May God bring us to His mount Zion and fulfill His Kingdom in and thru us,
RenaeRoche2025