The Book of Obadiah is only one of two minor prophets that are addressed entirely to a nation other than Israel or Judah.

It says in the outline of the New King James Study Bible: Obadiah means, ‘Servant of the Lord’… [and] Obadiah like Jesus, has his work cut out for him with the difficult task of representing God to people who don’t want to hear what He has to say. Obadiah was God’s mouth piece. Through the prophet, Obadiah, the Lord expressed His indignation at the nation of Edom. When they should have been helping their relatives, they instead were gloating over over their problems and raiding their homes.

A day was coming – the day of the Lord – when all these wrongs would be righted.
We see judgment in this book upon the family of, relatives of Judah; those of Edom.
As I studied this, I also saw judgment coming to blood family members concerning you as well as those in the family of God; for it is written to do good to others; especially those of the household of faith, Galatians 6:10.

Tests…

Sometimes we are tested on our responses to others; and at other times we are their test. Many have failed tests concerning you, the Lord is not pleased and some will suffer at the place of their criticism/ judgment of you.

I am seeing some who turned their face knowing you had needs; what they refused to offer up to the Lord and release to you; that very thing will be extracted from their lives.

For the book of Obadiah is very clear on this one thing: The nature of God’s judgment always reflects the nature of sin being judged.

Edom should have offered to help, but rather turned them over to be conquered. It says God has not abandoned Judah, that they would be restored to the land after judgment of the exile had been accomplished and their enemies would be punished.

It said God desires that we show mercy and favor to our neighbors in their time of distress. Treachery against a relative is never justified and will be judged by the God of justice.

The Lord showed me; concerning my own family; that more would be taken than left behind. I saw one home burning down, and as I read through this book of Obadiah, saw it occurring in these these Scriptures as well.

It speaks of us possessing our possessions and entering the promised land, and that there shall be deliverance, holiness, and righteousness for the descendants.

Edom thought no one would hold them accountable for what they did to the Judeans. They were filled with Pride, but this book shows us that God is sovereign, whether people acknowledge it or not. Some will perish in their own ignorance.

In the Lord’s eyes, for them to join forces and attack their own relatives was unthinkable. Have you ever been there? I know I have. I can’t honestly say I responded well. It has truly got to the point you become numb to it, and can say, “Lord, forgive them for they know not what they are doing.”

You just KNOW something is about to happen when your enemies forge together! This is what was happening to the Judeans. Edom rejoiced at Judea’s suffering, at their defeat and destruction, and even helped to complete that and these were deliberate on Edom’s part.

What I have found in this book, and even in my own experience, is the one who allows those of us to go through as we are Servants of the Lord; acquainted with Him in sufferings; that same God, will use us and our situations to be a tool of invocation of His judgment, even upon our own households; those of faith and not of faith.

~ Jennifer Mars

Jennifer N. Mars is a Minister from Syracuse, NY and is a Co-Founder of Zion International Ministries.

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