Don’t Stand Aloof

“Because of the violence against your brother Jacob,

You will be covered with shame; you will be destroyed forever.

On the day you stood aloof while strangers carried off his wealth and

foreigners entered his gates and cast lots for Jerusalem,

You were like one of them.”

Obadiah 2:10-11

I read through Obadiah.  God punished the descendants of Esau (the Edomites) because they “stood aloof” while the Israelites (the descendants of Jacob) were being attacked by other nations.  Esau & Jacob were brothers, and Jacob tricked Esau out of his birthright.  The last time we read about the brothers seeing one another, Esau & Jacob parted ways without tension.  Esau never followed through on his threat to kill Jacob.  In fact, they had a sweet reunion (Genesis 33).  Apparently Esau forgave Jacob.  However, Obadiah makes me believe there must have been a root of bitterness left over that festered for generations; and allowed the Edomites to stand aside & not help Israel defend itself.

After giving Esau’s birthright to Jacob, Isaac couldn’t richly bless his firstborn, but God could – and did.  The Lord speaks to Edom (Obadiah 2:4) and says, “Though you soar like the eagle and make your nest among the starts, from there I will bring you down”.  If Edom wasn’t blessed, how could he be soaring like an eagle?

Pastor taught me that forgiveness meant refusing to bring the offense to the attention and memory of (1) the person who offended us, (2) other people and (3) ourselves.  Obadiah caused me to believe that developing a willingness to help our enemies actually completes the forgiveness process.  Pastor also taught me that words like “love” and “forgiveness” are not emotions, but actions.  I can forgive someone without having warm & fuzzy feelings about them. 

Praise God for making me a different person.  I have prayed for my enemies; and I actually did a favor for someone that I believe wronged me in the past.  I have learned how to forgive.  What’s your experience been with forgiveness?  Let us know.

“He put a new song in my mouth,

A hymn of praise to our God.”

Psalm 40:3