10th September 2024

10th September 2024


Pray (ACts)


Read (Obadiah 1v10-14)


Message (Scott Woodburn)


Are you aware of the “special relationship” between the USA & Great Britain? The phrase was first coined by Winston Churchill who on the 5th March 1946 spoke of a special relationship between the English speaking people of the world seeing this relationship as key to a peaceful and prosperous future. The relationship has been tested ever since but we can nevertheless be thankful for God’s providence in the world of politics.


There should have been another “special relationship” in the pages of Scripture. We have already seen that God’s judgement was burning against the Edomities who pridefully believed they were untouchable. It shouldn’t have been this way. Esau and Jacob were brothers and the two nations that came from the twins should have been brothers too. Indeed the Lord describes Jacob as Edom’s brother in this very passage (v10).


Elsewhere the Lord commands His people to treat the Edomites well, He said “You shall not abhor an Edomite, for he is your brother.” (Deuteronomy 23v7). When God speaks we should listen but tragically the Edomites throughout history found themselves in opposition to those who they should have been helping.


Trouble was coming to Israel who God here calls “Jacob” (v10a) and because of the violence that would be done to Israel, Edom would be covered in shame and cut off forever (v10b). We’ll see that this wasn’t unfair and it certainly wasn’t a matter of Edom being in the wrong place at the wrong time. They were a sinfully proud people and we’ll discover later in the week that this pride had made their relationship with Israel rotten.


None of us are immune from broken relationships. Even as you read this you might be painfully aware that you and your brother don’t speak or that you have long maintained distance from your mother. I offer no magic solution to your problems and it should go without saying that my hands aren’t clean in this regard either. My wisdom, for what it is worth, is for you and I to honour Christ in our human relationships. This is all the more pressing when someone treats us badly or desires war rather than peace.


Jesus died for us when we were utterly unloveable (Romans 5v6). May He strengthen us by His ordinary means and cause us to honour Him in our relationships - especially those that look like a modern version of Israel and Edom. For Christ’s sake.


Pray (acTS)


Sing


WSC


Q86 What is faith in Jesus Christ? Faith in Jesus Christ is a saving grace, whereby we receive and rest upon him alone for salvation, as he is offered to us in the gospel.
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