There Would Be Nothing Left For Edom

The Edomites were descendants of Esau, the eldest son of Isaac (Gen 25:25). His name was “called Edom” (Gen 25:30), after he sold his birthright to his twin brother, Jacob, for a bowl of red pottage (Gen 25:33). The Edomites thought that they would never be conquered by any hostile enemies because their “habitation is high” (v. 3). But the prophet Obadiah warned them that no matter how strong they make their fortress, nothing can save them because God will bring them down (v. 4)! The prophet illustrated this destruction as being far worse than thieves coming to steal what they want “till they had enough.”

 Even the “grapegatherers” come to pick only the ripened grapes and leave the rest. So, when the enemy soldiers come to plunder Edom (Jer 49:9), nothing will be left behind. They will take all their treasures and all their “hidden things” (v. 6). In other words, their destruction would be more complete than any acts of mere robbery! Why is Edom being punished so severely? Because when the Babylonian armies attacked Jerusalem, Edom merely stood “on the other side” (v. 11a), and aided the enemies by being “as one of them” (v. 11b).

Instead of helping their brothers, they “have rejoiced over the children of Judah in the day of their destruction” (v. 12). Worse than that, they even “cut off” (v. 14), the escape route of those who were trying to flee. Sadly, many people today are showing a similar hatred against bible-believing Christians (Jn 15:18). Just because we’re doing things “for righteousness' sake” (Mt 5:10), unbelievers will try to persecute us by speaking evil of us (1 Pet 4:4). They would even ruin our characters through social media. But don’t be discouraged. Keep on living for Jesus and continue to “fight the good fight of faith” (1 Tim 6:12). Because it will be worth it all! God bless you!

-Pastor Melito Barrera