Righteous Judgment: A Study in ObadiahPrimjer

What does it say?

God pronounced a death sentence on the Edomites.

What does it mean?

As descendants of Esau, the Edomites were distant relatives of the Israelites through Jacob. Edom had historically suffered with pride and had been unkind to the Israelites through the centuries. The Edomites refused to let the Israelites pass through their territory in the days of Moses (Num. 20:14-21). When Babylonian armies captured and destroyed Jerusalem, the Edomites gloated and sent scavengers to loot what was left of the city. God’s promise to destroy the Edomites entirely as a nation was fulfilled when Arab invaders conquered Edom in the 5th century B.C. By the end of the 1st century A.D., even the Edomites who escaped to other places disappeared from history.

How should I respond?

We often feel that divine justice has been served when those we dislike face calamity. However, God calls us to be more gracious and mature than that. What would happen if we took the opportunity to help meet their needs instead of gloating when our enemies suffer? Perhaps they would be gently and genuinely led to God and eventually would no longer be our “enemies.” Jesus tells us to love our enemies and pray for those who persecute us (Matt. 5:44). Take a few minutes each day this week to pray for someone who bothers you, and see what God does in your heart.