Our privilege of late has been to peer inside the thoughts of God through the prophet Obadiah about a nation called Edom. God's judgment is being pronounced against this sinful nation, and we have the opportunity to discover why. Edom has been prideful, and they believe themselves to be secure within their high and rocky fortresses. Yet, they are not beyond the reach of God. God sees. God knows, and God understands their true nature, and when He seeks to avenge, no one can hide. In today's verse, Obadiah five, we once again observe a trait that is within Edom, and if we look closely enough we will find this same trait in satan himself and in our own sinful flesh. Obadiah wrote:
If thieves came to thee, if robbers by night, (how art thou cut off!) would they not have stolen till they had enough? if the grapegatherers came to thee, would they not leave [some] grapes?
We read yesterday where Edom was full of pride, and their downfall began when they believed themselves to be beyond the reach of anyone. Obadiah reveals God's next assessment of Edom by asking them questions concerning thieves, robbers and grapegatherers. He notes, “if thieves came...robbers by night” but then interrupts himself and pauses to parenthetically share just how “cut off” this nation of Edom is. It's almost as if Obadiah is outside of his own words, and the judgment he is sharing is so strong that even as he writes about it, he has to share it with emphasis. Edom is “cut off” which means ceased, destroyed, perished and undone. It is a horrible thing to be within the contrary aim of the Almighty God.
Obadiah uses the examples of thieves, robbers, and grapegatherers to describe Edom and asks “would they not have stolen till they had enough?” “Would they not leave some grapes?” “Till they had enough?”, “...leave some grapes?” In other words, even thieves, robbers, and grapegatherers have a limit, however Edom was never satisfied. There was a constant desire for more, just a little more, just another little bit, just one more time, and yet the insatiable desire never stops. Like a constant passion for more money, more chocolate, more sex, more food more, more, more. God says through Obadiah, the sin of Edom is not only pride, but also never being content. The flesh nature of man and satan are like Edom. The flesh is never satisfied, and always desires more. Satan constantly attempts to destroy people's lives, and he has an insatiable desire to remove everyone from a relationship with God.
Edom is to be judged by God, and so will satan and our flesh. Part of the purpose of letting us peer into the judgment of God against Edom is that we might recognize Edom's traits within our own lives. God in His mercy and kindness reveals in advance the characteristics that are contrary to Him. The heavenly Father's solicitation toward us and everyone is that we will identify sinful ways as He does, and then appeal to Him to remove them. This was the purpose of the cross of Jesus Christ. God already knew the prideful and insatiable characteristics of man. God identified them, and then set about to remove our sinful state by sending His Son Jesus to die in our place as a penalty for our sins. We are the aim of God for a relationship with Him, and the only way that fellowship occurs is by the removal of our insatiable sinful nature. The price has been paid, and all we must do now is believe in the substitutionary sacrifice of Jesus.
Edom was prideful. Edom was never satisfied. Oh may we examine our hearts today and discover if any of these traits lie within, and if found, may we seek the face of God for each of them. Heavenly Father we open our hearts to you today to reveal where we are prideful and never content.
Next time we will see how all things are open to the eyes of God and how Obadiah reveals that nothing about Edom is hidden from Him, 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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