Obadiah has been given a vision by God against Edom, and the vision does not hold a cheerful fate for them. What was it that caused God to react in such a manner? Why would God be so against a country or nation in the first place, and is there anything about the way that Edom was behaving that we might consider about our own lives? Obadiah answers those questions in verse three of his daunting prophecy. He wrote:
The pride of your heart has deceived you, you that dwell in the clefts of the rock, whose habitation [is] high; that says in his heart, Who shall bring me down to the ground?
Pride was Edom's problem, “The pride of your heart”. Pride is number one on the list of the things that God hates. In the book of Proverbs in chapter six and verses sixteen and seventeen Solomon wrote:
These six [things] does the LORD hate: yes, seven [are] an abomination unto him: A proud look...
Edom was proud, and they thought themselves immune to any outside attacks. They were dwelling in “clefts of the rock” or in places that they felt were impenetrable. Whenever anyone believes themselves to be outside of or insusceptible to the reach of God, they are deceived. They as Edom often boast about how great they are, and how their means of protection will keep them from ever being attacked or destroyed. Their false sense of security is vain, and although they believe themselves to fully protected, they are not protected from the hand of the Almighty God.
Another verse in Proverbs in chapter sixteen and verse eighteen says:
Pride goes before destruction, and a haughty spirit before a fall.
How many times have we seen someone who is bragging upon themselves for some type of accomplishment in one moment only to make a fool of themselves in the next? Pride does this to people and nations, and we would do well to take heed to it. Basically the idea is having confidence in one's self or one's own ability rather than attributing successes or accumulations to God. If we are successful, it is because God has given provisions for that success. If we are safe, God has given that safety. If we seem to be unreachable by opposition in any area, it is because God has provided inaccessibility. In other words, all the glory goes to God.
The problem with Edom was that they were taking the glory for themselves. They were so proud they thought, “Who shall bring me down to the ground?” God is answering that question, “I will”. No one and no nation is outside of the reach of God Almighty. Perhaps we should end today's study by looking at what the prophet Isaiah wrote in chapter fourteen and verses twelve through twenty as we see what God did with satan when the pride of his heart was exalted as he thought himself to be equal to God.
How are you fallen from heaven, O Lucifer, son of the morning! [how] are you cut down to the ground, which did weaken the nations! For you have said in your heart, I will ascend into heaven, I will exalt my throne above the stars of God: I will sit also upon the mount of the congregation, in the sides of the north: I will ascend above the heights of the clouds; I will be like the most High. Yet you shall be brought down to hell, to the sides of the pit. They that see you shall narrowly look upon you, and consider you, saying, Is this the man that made the earth to tremble, that did shake kingdoms; That made the world as a wilderness, and destroyed the cities thereof; that opened not the house of his prisoners? All the kings of the nations, even all of them, lie in glory, every one in his own house. But you are cast out of your grave like an abominable branch, and as the raiment of those that are slain, thrust through with a sword, that go down to the stones of the pit; as a carcase trodden under feet. You shall not be joined with them in burial, because you have destroyed your land, and slain your people: the seed of evildoers shall never be renowned.
If we look through these daunting verses long enough, we will find them filled with the word “I”. “I”, “I”, “I”, “I” - This is the downfall of pride, not only for Edom, but also for ourselves should we fall into pride's trap. Our fleshly natures have a tendency to take credit for what God has provided, and we would all do well to examine our hearts to discover whether we give glory to ourselves as Edom or give glory to God Almighty where glory is due.
Next time we will continue to consider God's judgment against Edom, so read ahead, and we shall join together then.
Until tomorrow...there is more...
Look for the new devotional book “Equipped for Battle – From Generation to Generation” in all major bookstore sites, www.amazon.com ; www.barnesandnobles.com ; download to e-books, and find it locally at www.mrzlc.com/bookstore
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