Paul the apostle made a comment about God in the book of Romans in chapter eight and verse thirty-one within which those who read and believe it find great comfort. He wrote: “What shall we then say to these things? If God [be] for us, who [can be] against us?” God is for those who believe in His Son Jesus as Savior, and for those who do not, God continues to pursue them. But what if God was not for us? What if He were against us? This is the case with our current study in the book of Obadiah. God is against Edom, and Obadiah has been given a vision about God's judgment upon them. Let's look at verse one again today as we begin our study.
The vision of Obadiah. Thus saith the Lord GOD concerning Edom; We have heard a rumor from the LORD, and an ambassador is sent among the heathen, Arise, and let us rise up against her in battle.
Obadiah or “servant of Jehovah” lived during the time of the captivity of Judah. The Babylonians have come and taken Judah's lands, and God has pronounced judgment upon Judah for abandoning Him as their God. Edom or “Red” watched as Judah was overrun by oppressors and took advantage of the opportunity to ridicule, pillage and impede the people who were trying to escape. Rather than help Judah, they helped the oppressors. However, God was watching, and now He is about have revenge.
There is an interesting verse in the Bible written by the prophet Hosea in chapter eight and verse seven:
For they have sown the wind, and they shall reap the whirlwind:
Paul the apostle wrote the same principle this way in the book of Galatians in chapter six and verses seven and eight:
Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man sows, that shall he also reap. For he that sows to his flesh shall of the flesh reap corruption; but he that sows to the Spirit shall of the Spirit reap life everlasting.
Paul also wrote in the book of Romans in chapter twelve and verse nineteen:
Dearly beloved, avenge not yourselves, but [rather] give place unto wrath: for it is written, Vengeance [is] mine; I will repay, saith the Lord.
Over and over again we read in the Bible in the book of Deuteronomy, Psalms, Nahum and Hebrews that to God belongs vengeance. Obadiah is an example of when God takes vengeance and is against someone. Obadiah has heard a “rumor” or a “charge” from the Lord against Edom. “An ambassador” has been sent to begin to “rise up in battle against” Edom. If we think about it, this is an ominous verse. To think that God would be against us is not only frightening, but should make us all bow in reverence and repentance. However, notice with me our suggestions of yesterday of the spiritual implications of this great prophesy.
Indeed, God is against Edom here, but suppose we liken Edom to our fleshly nature or even satan himself? Israel was a type of the spirit in the Old Testament, and Esau or Edom was a type of the flesh. We war against our fleshly nature, and satan wars against us at all times. As we go through this study together, if we will keep these two spiritual aspects in mind, we will begin to enjoy that God is against Edom. We will rejoice in the fact that God has waged war and taken vengeance upon our fleshly nature and upon satan himself. As Obadiah wrote,“an ambassador is sent among the heathen, Arise, and let us rise up against her in battle.”
Next time we will look further into Obadiah's prophecy, 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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