OBADIAH 13

“Do not enter the gate of My people on the day of their disaster. You indeed, do not gloat over their catastrophe on the day of their disaster. And do not lay a hand on their wealth on the day of their disaster.

We have all either experienced disasters or seen them happen. Just a couple of years ago, on Easter Sunday, right at the beginning of the Covid crisis, a tornado struck my area of the city where I live. Many homes were destroyed. There was disarray everywhere. In fact, this area of town will never look the same.

Israel was experiencing that kind of disaster. Their entire communities were being destroyed by their enemies, and Edom was rejoicing. They were taking advantage of the situation. God warns them to not go there, to not gloat and to not lay a hand on anything Israel owned. Edom would be judged by how they treat their brother.

APPLICATION

Perhaps your life is a disaster right now. Nothing is going right. Every time you try to do something right, you get struck down. Your finances are a mess. Your marriage is on the rocks. Your children are rebelling. You feel like throwing your hands up and quitting.

Don’t! God is there. If you are a believer, you must trust Him. 1 Corinthians 10:13 tells us, “No temptation has overtaken you, except what is common to man. BUT God is faithful. He will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. And when you are tempted, He will also provide a way out so that you can endure it.” So, stay close to Him. He has you right where He wants you.

That’s hard to swallow, I know. Pain is no fun. Suffering isn’t easy. But everything that touches your life, as a believer, goes through His hands first. Believe that. Hang on to that. He has a plan, and it is always perfect.

O God, it is hard to trust what you cannot see, but I will trust You because I know You want to make me into the image of Christ.