- Saviors shall go up to Mount Zion to rule Mount Esau, and the kingdom shall be the Lord’s. Obadiah 1:21 – Obadiah was likely a very early prophet and we see his message wasn’t directed at Israel or Judah, but the nation of Edom. Edom was a brother nation to Israel, descending from Jacob’s brother Esau. While one may think being a brother nation Edom would support Israel, but history tells us otherwise for often they were in rebellion against each other. With his prophecy Obadiah speaks about how Edom handled seeing Israel being attacked. First, they stood “aloof” not caring. Then they rejoiced at Israel’s downfall. Then they plundered and took advantage of Israel. Finally they jumped in to help the enemy attack Israel. This was how Edom handled Israel…and God saw. We see in the prophecy God making it clear all this was before Him and Edom was going to experience exactly what they gave to Israel. Let us then take peace knowing God sees. Know God is seeing when those who should care about your struggles don’t. Know God sees when people are rejoicing at your hurt. Know God sees when the people that should be for you take advantage of you. Know God sees when people join together to come against you. God sees, and God will take care of it. We serve a God that is just and He will not let such sin against His people go without consequences. Find peace knowing God sees you and sees what you are going through. While those who should be standing up for you may not be, know He will stand for you and His kingdom will be the one that lasts. Let us then be also willing to stand up for those the Lord would stand up for. I love you, but Jesus loves you more – Mac – Daily DEVO 3298
- On the day that you stood aloof, on the day that strangers carried off his wealth and foreigners entered his gates and cast lots for Jerusalem, you were like one of them. Obadiah 1:11 – “You stood aloof.” The exact instance when foreigners were entering Israel’s gates isn’t clear, but the attitude of Edom, Israel’s brother nation, is clear. They stood aloof, meaning unfriendly and distant, watching all this go down, even praising the fact that it was happening. Please church let this not be said of us. Our brothers and sisters are being attacked by our common enemy, let’s not stand aloof just watching it happen without us stepping in to defend and support them. Let’s not continue to let the enemy have his way with those who don’t know Jesus yet. Our calling isn’t to be aloof, our calling is to be all in. Step into each other’s story and make sure we aren’t battling our enemy without each other. I love you, but Jesus loves you more – Mac – Daily DEVO 1201
- But do not gloat over the day of your brother in the day of his misfortune; do not rejoice over the people of Judah in the day of their ruin; do not boast in the day of distress. Do not enter the gate of my people in the day of their calamity; do not gloat over his disaster in the day of his calamity; do not loot his wealth in the day of his calamity. Do not stand at the crossroads to cut off his fugitives; do not hand over his survivors in the day of distress. Obadiah 1:12-14 – “Do not” is said eight different times in these three verses. The message of Obadiah was to the people of Edom who when their cousin nation of Israel was in crisis just stood there watching and even joined in the victimizing of Israel. God now is coming down hard on Edom for this. God is very clear, do not look at the hardship of your brother and just pass by, or worse, take advantage of him in his time of need. We are called to step in, lean in, and offer a hand of help. Who then is a brother or sister in Christ that is going through a tough season that you need to lean into the story of? Let’s no longer just see the need and pass by, but see the need and lean in. I love you, but Jesus loves you more – Mac – Daily DEVO 2086
Daily DEVO 