My NLT Study Bible has given me some insight into the animosity between Israel and Edom as described in the little book of Obadiah. And Eugene Petersen (The Message Bible) adds a wry touch when he writes "It takes the entire Bible to read any part of the Bible" as the opening of his introduction to this little book.
Three stories are helpful. Isaac and Rebekah's twin boys, Jacob and Esau, were the ancestors of the people of Israel and Edom respectively. Even though the brothers did eventually reconcile, it seems there was lingering animosity between their neighbouring countries.
Later, when Moses was leading the children of Israel from Egypt to the Promised Land, he requested permission from the king of Edom to pass through that territory. Unfortunately that permission was refused and the book of Numbers records that "the soul of the people was much discouraged..." (21:4). Moses got the blame for their having to now take a much more circuitous route.
Obadiah, verse 11(The Living Bible) indicates a further lack of neighbourliness when Israel was invaded by Babylon:
11 For you deserted Israel in his time of need. You stood aloof, refusing to lift a finger to help him when invaders carried off his wealth and divided Jerusalem among them by lot; you were as one of his enemies.
But the story doesn't end there. The final verse (21) says:
"Those who have been rescued will go up to Mount Zion in Jerusalem to rule over the mountains of Edom. And the Lord himself will be king!" (NLT 2nd edition)
It seems that hostilities ceased. Petersen writes:
"...the last line of the prophecy takes a giant step out of the centuries of hate and rivalry and invective. Israel, so often a victim of Edomite aggression through the centuries, is suddenly revealed to be saved from the injustices of the past... ...instead of doing to others what had been done to them and continuing the cycle of violence ... they are presented as taking over the reins of government and administering God's justice justly. They find themselves in a new context--God's kingdom--and realize that they have a new vocation--to represent God's rule."
Is this a clue that when we let God take the lead, hostilities cease?
Alleluia! For the Lord God omnipotent reigneth! (Rev. 19: 6)
Julie Swannell
No comments:
Post a Comment