Daily EncouragementSample

Both Obadiah and Jeremiah have strong words for Edom - in fact, at some points identical words (cf. Obad. 1-9; Jer. 49:7-22). Edom’s story is a long one, beginning when Esau and Jacob jostled each other in Rebekah’s womb before they were born. It is a story of pride and perpetual antagonism towards Jacob’s descendants (Amos 1:11). The text for this meditation almost certainly refers to judgement on Edom’s attitude to Judah when she capitulated to Babylon: “the violence against your brother Jacob . . . On the day you stood aloof while strangers carried off his wealth and foreigners entered his gates” (Obad. 10-11).

It is hard for us to relate to the history of those by-gone days, but nevertheless a message of strong encouragement comes through. The pride of man is no match for the power of God. Edom boasted of her rocky strongholds, which were seemingly impregnable. What were those to the One who could wrest his opponents from the highest star? Again, antagonism to “the Israel of God” (Gal. 6:16) is ultimately doomed. God is on the side of his elect, which is the point of the stark statement, “I have loved Jacob, but Esau I have hated” (Mal. 1:2-3; Rom. 9:13). If God is for us, who can be against us?” (Rom. 8:31).