The Minor Prophets Messengers for Today: Obadiah

The Minor Prophets Messengers for Today: Obadiah

By Rev. Lonnie C. Crowe

Obadiah, whose name means “servant of the Lord, was submitted to God even when he was asked to step out of the realm of “political correctness” and bring a warning to those who had become the enemies of Israel. The book of Obadiah is God’s warning against the people of Edom.  Obadiah 1:2-4 (NKJV)  "Behold, I will make you small among the nations; You shall be greatly despised. The pride of your heart has deceived you, You who dwell in the clefts of the rock, Whose habitation is high; You who say in your heart, 'Who will bring me down to the ground?' Though you ascend as high as the eagle, And though you set your nest among the stars, From there I will bring you down," says the LORD. “

We cry out in agreement, “Hear the word of the Lord, all you who seek to destroy Israel and, by extension of the covenant, to destroy the Church, the Bride of Christ.”

The Edomites were descendants of Esau, the twin brother of Jacob.  Esau and Jacob were the sons of Isaac and the grandsons of Abraham.  Remember the story in Genesis 25 where Esau sold his birthright to Isaac for a bowl of stew.  Genesis 25:33-34 (NKJV):  “Then Jacob said, "Swear to me as of this day." So he swore to him, and sold his birthright to Jacob. And Jacob gave Esau bread and stew of lentils; then he ate and drank, arose, and went his way. Thus Esau despised his birthright.”

Esau lived for the moment and gave up his spiritual blessings to satisfy his physical appetites.  The Edomites represent those who despise what God has given them and resent the blessing of God.  Esau’s discontent was generational.  His uncle and father-in-law Ishmael had earlier received a blessing from the Lord. Genesis 17:20 (NKJV) “And as for Ishmael, I have heard you. Behold, I have blessed him, and will make him fruitful, and will multiply him exceedingly. He shall beget twelve princes, and I will make him a great nation.”  Yet, Ishmael despised his blessing and resented the covenant that the Lord made with Isaac.

God’s covenant was with Isaac and then Jacob, but he blessed Esau as well.  

 Speaking through the Spirit of God, Isaac blessed Esau.  Genesis 27:38-41 (NKJV) :  “And Esau said to his father, "Have you only one blessing, my father? Bless me--me also, O my father!" And Esau lifted up his voice and wept. Then Isaac his father answered and said to him: "Behold, your dwelling shall be of the fatness of the earth, And of the dew of heaven from above. By your sword you shall live, And you shall serve your brother; And it shall come to pass, when you become restless, That you shall break his yoke from your neck." So Esau hated Jacob because of the blessing with which his father blessed him, and Esau said in his heart, "The days of mourning for my father are at hand; then I will kill my brother Jacob."

God promised that one day Esau would no longer be in servitude to Jacob.  Esau was unwilling to wait for the Lord’s promise to be fulfilled.  To this day, the descendents of Ishmael and Esau seek the destruction of Israel. Obadiah 1:10 (NKJV)
¹⁰  "For violence against your brother Jacob, Shame shall cover you, And you shall be cut off forever.

As Christians, we are grafted into the covenant God has made with Israel.  It is important to note that we are grafted into the covenant.  We do not replace Israel in the covenant.  (Romans 11:11-18.) God’s promise is that Israel, and, therefore, the Church shall prevail.

God spoke at least two important truths through Obadiah.  The first is that His that, even though, His covenant is with Israel, His heart Is for all mankind.  Through the sacrifice of Jesus we can enter into His covenant. 

The second lesson that we must accept that God has a plan and a blessing for each of us.  We must learn to walk in our own blessing and not resent the blessing He has given to others. Jeremiah 29:11 (NKJV) “For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, says the LORD, thoughts of peace and not of evil, to give you a future and a hope.”

Obadiah 1:21 (NKJV)
^“Then saviors shall come to Mount Zion To judge the mountains of Esau, And the kingdom shall be the LORD'S.”  Amen.

When we cling to the promises and blessings of God, not matter what Is happening in the world, we have a future and a hope.

My Hope Is Built on Nothing Less

By Edward Mote

.              My hope is built on nothing less

               than Jesus' blood and righteousness.

               I dare not trust the sweetest frame,

               but wholly lean on Jesus' name.

               On Christ the solid rock I stand,

               all other ground is sinking sand;

               all other ground is sinking sand.

               When Darkness veils his lovely face,

               I rest on his unchanging grace.

               In every high and stormy gale,

               my anchor holds within the veil.

                

               His oath, his covenant, his blood

               supports me in the whelming flood.

               When all around my soul gives way,

               he then is all my hope and stay.

                

               When he shall come with trumpet sound,

               O may I then in him be found!

               Dressed in his righteousness alone,

               faultless to stand before the throne!