A long time ago, there were two nations: Israel and Edom. The people of Edom were descendants of Esau, and the people of Israel were descendants of Jacob. Even though Esau and Jacob were brothers, the nations that came from them didn’t always get along. The Book of Obadiah is a short message from God to the people of Edom through His prophet, Obadiah.
1. Edom’s Mistake Edom had done something wrong. When Israel, their neighbor, was in trouble, the people of Edom didn’t help. Instead, they stood by and even cheered when Israel was attacked by enemies. Sometimes, they even took advantage of Israel’s situation and joined in the wrong behavior. God saw this, and He wasn’t pleased. He sent Obadiah to warn Edom that they would be judged for their actions.
Lesson: God wants us to help others when they are in need, not take advantage of their troubles. He cares about how we treat our neighbors.
2. God’s Judgment on Edom Obadiah told the people of Edom that because they were proud and had hurt others, God was going to punish them. Edom had trusted in their high mountains and strong defenses, thinking they were safe. But Obadiah warned them that no one can hide from God’s justice. Their pride and cruelty would lead to their downfall.
Lesson: Being proud and thinking we don’t need God is dangerous. God sees everything, and He wants us to be humble and kind.
3. A Message for Everyone Even though Obadiah’s message was directed at Edom, there’s a lesson for all of us. God sees how we treat others, and He wants us to be fair, kind, and loving. When we are proud, mean, or hurt others, it displeases God. But when we choose to help and be kind, God is happy with us.
Lesson: God wants us to love and help others, especially when they are in trouble. When we do what is right, God is pleased.
4. The Future Hope At the end of the book, Obadiah shares that God would one day restore Israel and protect His people. Even though things were hard for Israel at that time, God promised that He would bring peace and justice in the future.
Lesson: Even when things seem unfair or difficult, we can trust that God is in control and will bring justice and peace in His time.
Key Lessons from Obadiah:
- God cares about how we treat others, especially when they are in trouble. He wants us to help and be kind, not stand by and do nothing.
- Pride and thinking we are better than others can lead to trouble. God wants us to be humble and trust Him.
- No matter how bad things get, God sees everything, and He promises to bring justice and peace in the future.
- God wants us to choose kindness and fairness in all we do.
The Book of Obadiah may be short, but it teaches us important lessons about humility, kindness, and trusting God’s plan. When we do what’s right and care for others, we are living the way God wants us to!
