Will I not on that day, declares the LORD,
destroy the wise men out of Edom,
and understanding out of Mount Esau?
9 And your mighty men shall be dismayed, O Teman,
so that every man from Mount Esau will be cut off by slaughter.
Short and sweet. The writer Ernest Hemingway was famous for his sparse writing style. So was Obadiah, the prophet who wrote the shortest book in the Old Testament, consisting of but one chapter. It is short but, as the above verses indicate, anything but sweet. God was not pleased with Edom, a nation descended from Jacob’s brother Esau and therefore related to Israel. When Babylon attacked what remained of Israel, Edom lent a hand against Israel. Hence the rhetorical question in verse 8. The obvious answer is you bet your bottom dollar, God will. That day would not be a good one for Edom. While we long for that day when Jesus returns, that day will not be good for all. In this case, that day will be a bad day for Edom.
The message of the gospel is short and sweet. We sinned. Jesus died. We are saved. The anger God showed Edom in the Old Testament is satisfied because Jesus went to a cross to pay the price for our sin of participating in the evil in the world. Will Jesus not return on that day to destroy death, sin and sorrow? You bet he will. We know because he promised. Not every man will be cut off by slaughter because he has chosen a remnant unto himself. Praise the Lord!
Dear Lord, thank you for the New Testament that tells us of that day for your chosen saved. May we be eternally grateful for your mercy and love. In Jesus’ name. Amen.
Pastor Brad Boyer
Cape Community Church