Obadiah

WRINKLED face, tiny hands with fingernail

chips, folds of new skin, and miniature eyes,

nose, and mouth—she’s a newborn. After

months of formation, she burst forth into the

world and into her family. “She has her

mother’s eyes.” “I can sure tell who her par-

ents are.” “Now that's your nose.” Relatives

and friends gaze into the little face and see

her mom and dad. Mother and Father rejoice

in their daughter, a miracle, anew member of the family. As loving parents, they will feed, protect, nurture, guide, and discipline her. This is their duty and joy. God, too, has children—men and women whom he has chosen as his very own. There have always been individuals marked as his, but with Abraham he promised to build a nation. Israel was to be God’s country, and her people, the Jews, his very own sons and daughters. Down through the centuries, God meted out discipline and punishment, but always with love and mercy. God, the eternal Father, protected and cared for his children. Obadiah, the shortest book in the Old Testament, is a dramatic example of God’s response to anyone who would harm his children. Edom was a mountainous nation, occupying the region southeast of the Dead Sea including Petra, the spectacular city discovered by archaeologists a few decades ago. As descendants of Esau (Genesis 25:19—27:45), the Edomites were blood relatives of Israel, and like their father, they were rugged, fierce, and proud warriors with a seemingly invincible mountain home. Of all people, they should have rushed to the aid of their northern brothers. Instead, however, they gloated over Israel’s problems, captured and delivered fugitives to the enemy, and even looted!srael’s countryside. Obadiah gave God’s message to the Edomites. Because of their indifference to and defiance of God, their cowardice and pride, and their treachery toward their relatives in Judah, they stood condemned and would be destroyed. The book begins with the announcement that disaster was coming to Edom (1:1-9). Despite their “impregnable” cliffs and mountains, they would not be able to escape God's judgment. Obadiah then gave the reasons for their destruction (1:10-14)— their blatant arrogance toward God and their persecution of God’s children. This concise prophecy ends with a description of the day of the LORD, when judgment will fall on all who have harmed God’s people (1:15-21). Today, God’s holy nation is his church—all who have trusted Christ for their salvation and have given their lives to him. These men and women are God’s born-again and adopted children. As you read Obadiah, catch a glimpse of what it means to be God's child, under his love and protection. See how the heavenly Father responds to all who would attack those whom he loves.