The One That Got Away [Until Now] Part II

        Obadiah the prophet is drawn to bringing the word of the Lord across the border, where he shepherds and manages figs.  He then enters a conflict with a message for the Edomites who’d savaged Israel, while Babylon was already crippling Israel.  It is a short read, with a lot packed into it, and while I wouldn't summarize it as cheery, being God’s word, it is nonetheless blessed and a privilege to have. [Glad I'm not an Edomite, but we all start out as 'Edom-like', so...]   In short, he brought a message of judgment, and Edom will be punished. It was a specific message for Edom, whose arrogance as a people disrupted their heart from having empathy toward their neighboring kin, Israel, the peoples descended from Jacob. Then comes a pivot, verse fifteen: "For the day of the Lord draws near on all nations. As you have done, it will be done to you. Your dealings will return on your own head." [Obadiah v.15]

      The specific message for the Edomites [descendants of Esau] has now been enlarged to include all nations infected with arrogance and pride. Reading Obadiah in isolation one may leave it only with a sense of God's coming wrath. Herein we must appreciate the voice of God through Obadiah, with that of the other aligned prophets, where God's judgment is co-mingled with His compassion to be accepting of those who repent. God's judgment never proceeds without His heart to lovingly reach and save, with the call upon us being to offer freely our 'yes' to Him, to believe and behave.  This is a message for all nations and all peoples, and it is at the heart of the Christmas message, extending from eternity's span to include our 'now' and 'yet to be': A faith which behaves is a faith which saves...and the bedrock of our believing is Jesus. Trust ye Him! His big move on our behalf awaits our agreement.  America, listen up.

PRAYER: Dear Lord, let me appreciate beyond my distractedness each and every day the need to know You more, and with that to be available to weather this roller-coaster life of ours with the anchor of truth, having Jesus, and in Him, having peace. I pray that the gift of life in me will be sufficiently impressive to bring confession, and usher in blessing, that my yielding will bring uplift, in Jesus' name.  I shall rejoice and be glad, in Him. Amen.  
by Bro. McNeal Brockington