Daily devotion – Get ready – Obadiah tells us.
Obadiah – tells us to ready ourselves!
Obadiah preached, “Get ready!”
It’s the shortest book in the Old Testament and it records the judgment against the people of Edom, who were the descendants of Esau.
You will remember the tremendous conflict between the sons of Isaac- Esau and Jacob? Twin brothers whose lives were intertwined by birth and yet in constant upheaval one with the other.
Esau sold his birthright to satisfy a momentary time of hunger and desire. Esau through the Scriptures symbolises the world’s wicked system of carnality and selfishness. The birthright, given to Jacob, represents those who return to the Lord.
It was the ministry of the prophet Obadiah to proclaim God’s invitation to Edom with urgency!
Obadiah 1:1 “Get ready, everyone!”
Obadiah 1:3 You have been deceived by your own pride
because you live in a rock fortress and make your home high in the mountains.
‘Who can ever reach us way up here?’ you ask boastfully.
4 But …….. I will bring you crashing down,” says the LORD.
God once again gives a warning to a people to repent, or get ready for judgment. The Lord reminded the people of Edom of their sin against kin when they rejoiced over Judah’s destruction. God would have blessed them, but they robbed their relatives and left them defenceless, so God declared His judgment: “As you have done, it shall be done to you.” – verse 15
This is a crucial message to Israel’s ancestors, the descendants of Esau and the cousin of Jacob. The land of Edom is the present day Jordan, where the amazing red rock city of Petra can be found. The Bible tells us that in the Last Days, people will be so terrified that they will escape to the mountains, thinking the Lord will not find them and bring them to His judgment seat.
But no one can escape the judgment of almighty God.
It is far better to “get ready” and be prepared than to run and be caught by the Lord’s hand.
Obadiah’s message rings true today – return to Him, for this land has been promised to Israel and one day its people will return home. – see verse 20.
God’s eternal promise will come to pass! Judgment will come to the mountains of Esau, “and the kingdom shall be the Lord’s”
Perhaps you have been on the run from God? Maybe you are ducking and weaving your life away from God’s calling and His plan for you. Today, God is speaking to you to stop running and instead get ready – for He is coming soon. Ask God to forgive you. Return to Him and know the safety of His arms and be filled with the knowledge that He is returning and to receive you unto Himself. Not to judge you! But that decision rests with you now!