Obadiah 1:3, Pride

Obadiah 1:3

"The pride of your heart has deceived you, You who dwell in the clefts of the rock, Whose habitation is high; You who say in your heart, 'Who will bring me down to the ground?'"
NKJV

In the book of Obadiah, the prophet is proclaiming judgment on the nation of Edom. This nation and God's people of Israel have a history full of conflict starting at the birth of Jacob and Esau. For hundreds of years what began with deception on the part of Jacob continued with violence as Israel and Edom locked horns in an extended bout of sibling rivalry. If Edom had forgiven Israel and turned to the Lord, they would have found freedom rather than bondage to their bitterness.

While you may not be fighting with another nation, maybe you are harboring resentment towards a friend or family member who wronged you. Now, like Esau, you desire revenge and will stop at nothing to get it. Holding a grudge may make us feel empowered, but it does nothing but rob us of joy. When we step outside ourselves and forgive others as God has forgiven us, we find freedom from our cage of contempt. Forgiveness of others also opens the floodgates of God's forgiveness in our own lives so that we may find rest for our souls and the perfect joy of the Lord.

Life Lesson: We need to practice active forgiveness.

Dear God,
Thank You for forgiving me of my sins. Help me to forgive others as You have forgiven me. If I am holding any grudges or bitterness, show me so that I can practice active forgiveness. In Jesus' name, Amen.

Living to tell what He died to say,
Pastor David McGee

My Comment: I am reminded that our governments in the world are turning against the nation of God and He has explicitly said He will bless those who bless Isreal and curse those who do not. God decides who He will bless and curse based on how they follow Him. It is not up to us to make that choice. If we follow God we bless Isreal. Those who turn against God He will destroy or bring to their knees. If He wants Isreal to learn a lesson as He has in the past He will use a nation or bring the destruction on them Himself. If He wants to destroy or teach a lesson to any nation, even ours He will, take care of the matter. We think we are the ones to take care of things with nations and we carry it even to our family and friends.

Our pride tells us we can figure out what it wrong with others (people or nations) and that we can "fix" them. We forget or let our pride blind us into thinking we are the saviors and we are not. We are the problem usually because we do not go to our Abba to have Him take care of the wrongs of the world or even the people in our families and ourselves. We can not even change ourselves how can we be so puffed up to believe we can change others or other nations?

I am not saying we should refrain from offering or helping yet it should be as the Lord guides us to do and not because we believe we have the best answer or that we know the best course to take.

Heavenly Father help us to have clear eyes, open ears and turn to you at all times to do Your will. Amen