God through the vision of Obadiah has begun to pronounce judgment upon the nation of Edom. As we learned yesterday in Obadiah three, Edom's error and sin was pride. Because their dwelling was in the clefts of the rocks they felt themselves to be impenetrable by anyone, however, they forgot that with God there is nowhere to hide. Obadiah continues his declaration against Edom and its pride in verse four where he wrote:
Though you exalt yourself as the eagle, and though you set your nest among the stars, from there will I bring you down, says the LORD.
We learned yesterday from the book of Proverbs that “pride goes before destruction and a haughty spirit before a fall” (Proverbs 16:18). Obadiah shows us how far reaching that destruction or fall can be. The Almighty God tells Edom through Obadiah, “though you exalt yourself as an eagle”, and the idea is that Edom thought themselves out of reach, and their own fortitude would constitute safety. They thought themselves beyond the reach of any oppression, and because they hid themselves in high places, surely no one would have access. But they forgot about God.
Obadiah continues, “though you set your nest among the stars”, or though Edom were to dwell in outer space, beyond the atmosphere of the Earth, beyond where anyone has ever set foot before, they still would be within the reach of God. In other words, there is no hiding from God. God is omnipresent and everywhere at the same time, and there is no where we can exalt ourselves or hide ourselves from Him. He created the universe, manages the universe, and dwells within every nook and cranny in which the universe lies. Some people think themselves to be as the Edomites – beyond reach, but there is no where anyone can hide from God.
Our enemy satan tried to exalt himself to the throne of the Most High God, and he was brought down. Our flesh may try to exalt itself against God, but it shall be brought down, and though these who dwelt in Edom thought themselves safe, the Almighty basically says no matter where you are or where you may go or try to hide, “there will I bring you down.” Our pride doesn't hide us from God, and for some of us one of the first characteristics that must removed to have a relationship with God is our pride. God Almighty desires to have a relationship with us through His Son Jesus Christ, and if we exalt our ways, our thoughts, and our ideas as superior to God's, we in effect hide ourselves within our own cognitive fortresses. These forts may be compelling for argument, and they may provide some sense of security as having spiritual aspects settled, but the Heavenly Father can enter into any mental surety and bring down any thought that is contrary to His. God loves us, and He cares enough about us to move aside all false senses of security to share with us the truth. He is always present. Edom forgot this, and rather than turn to an Almighty and resourceful God, they thought themselves safe without Him. May we learn from the pride of Edom that with God there is no where to hide.
Next time we will continue to consider how God compares Edom to thieves and those who gather grapes, 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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