5th September 2024

5th September 2024


Pray (ACts)


Read (Obadiah 1v1-9)


Message (Scott Woodburn)


Obadiah’s message was short but for someone called “Edom” it was of vital importance. God’s servant Obadiah had received a vision that directly concerned Edom and so the Prophet had been sent out to the nations to proclaim his God given message (v1). Who was Edom? Edom is both a person and a place. Edom’s inhabitants were called Edomites who were descendants of Esau. Perhaps you remember Esau? He was Jacob’s older twin brother and when he was born he was hairy earning the name Esau, which means hairy (Genesis 25v30). Later in his life he sold his birthright for some red stew (Genesis 25v30) which got him another name Edom, which means red.


Later still Esau took foreign women as his wives and settled in a place called Seir (Genesis 36v2). Seir also means hairy and so it was an appropriate place for Esau to make his home. If you were in any doubt, Moses couldn’t have been clearer when he wrote “Esau is Edom” (Genesis 36v8) and needless to say, the Edomites were natural enemies of the Israelites.


Why was this so? The Lord told Jacob and Esau’s mother Rebekah “Two nations are in your womb, and two peoples from within you shall be divided; the one shall be stronger than the other, the older shall serve the younger.” (Genesis 25v23). This prophetic word was proved true throughout the Bible. On numerous occasions Edom stood against her cousin Israel and her attitude is best described by the Lord who said that Edom “cherished perpetual enmity” (Ezekiel 35v5).


That’s a tragic statement. Edom also called Esau also called Seir, preferred strife rather than peace. They took numerous opportunities to oppose Israel until one day Edom fell under God’s judgement and was no more.


I am always amazed at how many people give no consideration to their standing with God. They kid themselves that there is no God or if He exists He won’t judge anyone. In the meantime they happily live as they wish, burning bridges and destroying others if it helps them climb life’s ladder. Brothers and sisters, the summer is over and autumn approaches. What will this year be like for you? Another year of “perpetual enmity” or perhaps a new attitude of grace and forgiveness? I doubt that the Edomites realised their peril but you and I have no excuse. The Lord knows and sees all. May our pressing business with Him be addressed for it is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God (Hebrews 10v31).


Pray (acTS)


Sing


WSC


Q82 Is any man able perfectly to keep the commandments of God? No mere man since the fall is able in this life perfectly to keep the commandments of God, but doth daily break them in thought, word, and deed.
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