Nobody Can Touch Me

 

 

Pearl Harbor, Hawaii was believed to be the strongest fortress in the world. To invade it the enemy needed to transport overseas an expeditionary force capable of executing a forced lading against a garrison of 35,000 men manning 127 fixed coast defense guns, 211 anti aircraft weapons and more than 3000 weapons available at the coast defense. Besides being the most powerful defense post under the American flag, it was also protected by distance.

 In 1941 George marshal after completing a tour of Hawaii military installation reported “with our heavy bombers and our new pursuit planes, the japs cannot dare attack Hawaii”. The Honolulu star bulletin wrote "A Japanese attack on Hawaii is regarded as the most unlikely thing in the world, with one chance in a million of being successful.”

But, on December 7, 1941, America's confidence was rocked as hundreds of Japanese fighter planes attacked Pearl Harbor. The bombardment lasted just two hours, but it was devastating: The Japanese destroyed 20 American naval vessels and 300 airplanes. More than 2,000 Americans soldiers died in the attack. It is regarded as one of the most daring and brilliant naval operations of all time.

Obadiah is the shortest Old Testament book (21 verses). The prophecy has two main parts. Verses 1–16 are directed against Edom, the descendants of Esau who lived to the southeast of the Dead Sea and verses 17–21 focus on the vindication of Israel and the final establishment of God's kingdom on earth. The Edomites were descendants of Esau, the son of Isaac and Rebekah and the twin brother of Jacob (Gen.25:19-34).

The Edomites lived in an area of great natural fortifications (Obadiah 1-4). Their home was located high on mountain rocks and surrounded by impassable cliffs. Mount Seir, a range of mountains that was fifteen to twenty miles long, epitomized Edom’s rugged terrain. A fortress city in rugged terrain appears unconquerable. The Edomites built their nests high like the eagles; so high they appeared to be among the stars. 

People of Edom felt that they were impregnable and this was a source of pride. They thought that nothing could touch them. They felt they could protect themselves from every danger by building their homes high in the cliffs. They said in their heart, ‘who will bring me down to earth?"   The question was not so much whether this would happen at some time in the future, but whether it even lies in the realm of possible events.

Towers and high walls were lofty structures in ancient times which gave the inhabitants a false sense of security and invincibility. This is the attitude which Edom possessed, but it would prove futile as a defense against the righteous vengeance of God. In their pride they failed to consider the vast capabilities of an Almighty God. A cleft is a place of concealment, but not concealment from the long arm and the omniscient gaze of God.

Edom asked “who can bring me down? God said “I can and I will bring you down!” He already had a plan that would give Edom the humbling they so badly needed. He planned to raise a coalition of nations against them. As a result, this long-time enemy of Israel that had so proudly considered itself invincible would be completely destroyed. Lofty Edom would be "cut down to size!" (Prov. 16:18)

The ruin upon Edom would be total, not like a thief or a grape gatherer who always leaves something. A covenant was the strongest, most solemn and binding agreement men could make. Eating together signaled a bond of friendship. Edom’s allies, friends, and even her very dependents would seek her ruin. Trusted friends would set an ambush for Edom taking her by surprise! The former allies would chase them from their land (Obadiah 5-7).

The men of Edom especially of the city Teman were renowned for their great wisdom. The Edomites were proud of their reputation for wisdom. The phrase “men of the East” in the Old Testament often refers to men from Edom. 1 Kings 4:30 declare the great wisdom of the men of the East. Jeremiah 49:7 says of Edom: Is wisdom no more in Teman? Has counsel perished from the prudent?

God will destroy Edom's sources of wisdom and understanding"(Obadiah 8-9). Their wise leaders will not be present to offer sage advice to the mighty men. The mighty men will be shattered and terrified. Without mighty men to defend, the result will be a massacre. “Every man” often reflects a majority rather than every human being. And so it is here. Edom as a nation will cease to exist, but a remnant of Edomites will be left (   Amos 9:12). 

Because of the violence against your brother Jacob, you will be covered with shame; you will be destroyed forever (Obadiah 10). The Israelites and Edomites had a common ancestor – Isaac. Esau and Jacob were not just brothers but even twins! Instead of honoring kinship bonds the Edom treated Jacob like a total stranger. Obadiah refers to Israel as "Jacob" (vv.10, 17, 18) to emphasize the egregious nature of Edom's sin.

It is sin to treat someone else badly; it is worse to treat a relative badly. In Deuteronomy 23:7 the Israelites were commanded “You shall not detest an Edomite, for he is your brother; you shall not detest an Egyptian, because you were an alien in his land.  In Genesis 12:3 God promised Abram and his seed "the one who curses you I will curse."  Edom in effect "cursed" Israel and thus invoked the fulfillment of this divine promise upon their own head! 

Edom had been the enemy of Israel from its inception. When Moses asked to pass through Edomites’ territory in peace on the way to Canaan, he was allowed (Num 20:14-21)). Years later when Jerusalem was under attack and the people of Judah were being carried away to captivity, Edom looked on with delight and shouted for joy at the news of the overthrow of Jerusalem (Ps. 137:7-9).

In Obadiah12-14 God provides through Obadiah, a list of eight “do not’s” a list which Edom obviously ignored. At first they stood aloof, indifferent to what was going on (v.11). They saw the destruction and distress of Jerusalem but refused to help (v.12). The Edomites gloated when Israel fell. They rejoiced over Israel’s misfortune and boasted so much in the day of their trouble.

Eventually became actively involved in Israel's distress (v.13). The Edomites, started cheering on the enemy armies to destroy and kill.  Edom took advantage of Judah's trouble by plundering some of their wealth.  Finally they joined in the attack against vulnerable Judah. They set up roadblocks, when the Israelites tried to flee, the Edomites caught and handed them over to their pursuers.

They should have helped rather than rejoicing in Judah’s troubles. They should have had mercy on the Israelite refugees rather than turning them away.   God expresses a special love for those who are poor and weak. That’s why there are provisions for aliens and strangers in the Law of Moses (Ex. 23:9).Pure and faultless religion means to “look after orphans and widows in their distress” (James 1:27). 

God wanted Edom to know that though distress and calamity came upon Judah, it can and will come upon Edom also and that day was near (Obadiah 15). Obadiah warned the Edomites that on that day they would reap what they had sown. Galatians 6:7 says “do not be deceived: God cannot be mocked. A man reaps what he sows”.  Woven into the fabric of life, the reaping principle applies to individuals as much as to nations. It's both a warning and a promise.

The predictions against Edom were fulfilled. The “invincible” Edom was conquered and completely destroyed. Eventually the nation of Edom disappeared into history. Origen, one of the early Church fathers, spoke of them as a people whose name and language had perished. Jeremiah 49:17-18 prophetic word, “‘Edom will become an object of horror…as Sodom and Gomorrah were overthrown, along with their neighboring towns,’ says the LORD, ‘so no one will live there; no people will dwell in it” was fulfilled.

The Edomites had been shortsighted in their celebration of Judah’s defeat. Obadiah underscores God’s fierce protection of His people. Although He does not always shield them from the malice of their enemies, he does hold the enemies accountable for their actions. In Obadiah, God was behind the scenes controlling the scenes He was behind. Proverbs 21:1 says "the king's heart is like channels of water in the hand of the LORD; He turns it wherever He wishes.

The judgment of Edom was a living example of the warning found in Proverbs 24:17-18: “Do not gloat when your enemy falls; when he stumbles, do not let your heart rejoice, or the LORD will see and disapprove and turn his wrath away from him.” The destruction of Jerusalem was a matter of divine discipline. They deserved the punishment that they received. But Edom’s gleeful response made them liable as well.

If someone has repeatedly been hurtful to us, it is easy to give in to vindictive pleasure when they experience misfortune. The Scripture admonishes us, “do not rejoice when your enemy falls and do not let your heart be glad when he stumbles”. The God, whom the Edomites thought they could disregard, would visit and destroy them. He would use the very objects of Edom's trust to destroy her.

In a similar way, the wealthy think they are impregnable. Proverbs 18:11 says "The wealth of the rich is their fortified city;they imagine it a wall too high to scale."  This is what the Lord says: “Let not the wise boast of their wisdom or the strong boast of their strength or the rich boast of their riches, but let the one who boasts boast about this: that they understand and know me, that I am the Lord, who exercises kindness, justice and righteousness on earth, for in these I delight” (Jer.9:23-24).

When God says something, that settles it, whether we believe it or not and whether we understand it or not. It is absolutely certain to come to pass. This immutable, trustworthy word of God regarding the certainty of His word and the glorious promises he has made to us is good news. In a world filled with great uncertainty, believers have a sure hope to which they can hold fast, fully confident God's word will hold them fast. 

The God who knows the number and the names of the stars (Ps.147:4) and who sees when the tiniest bird falls to the ground (Matt.10:29) is working out His divine purposes in human history. God’s ways are hidden and mysterious and we sometimes wonder why He permits certain things to happen. Knowing that He reigns over all things ought to encourage the people of God as they watch world events and grieve over the decay of people and nations.