Bible Study - Pitfalls (2) - The Pitfall of Temptation - Genesis 39:1-12 - January 30, 2022

 

Bible Study – Pitfalls (2) – The Pitfall of Temptation – January 30, 2022

This is lesson two (2) in our Series entitled, “How to Avoid Life’s Pitfalls.”

Our focus scripture is Genesis 39:1-12.

Remembering what is at stake helps us overcome temptation some of the time but not all of the time.

In the life stories we read in the Bible gives us an overview of a person’s life and the events taking place in his or her life. We know the whole life events in Joseph’s life but Joseph did not know the outcome until the latter days of his life. Joseph had to trust GOD as he was going through life. GOD was building a firm foundation in Joseph to trust GOD in all things.

As we study the life of Joseph, we get to witness GOD testing the trust and character of Joseph. Why? It was because GOD had a major role for Joseph to play in the preservation of HIS chosen people and other people groups.  

One of worst things a Christian can do is to think he or she is beyond being tempted and falling into sin. Satan loves it. I know. I thought I could walk through Hell and come out the other end without having the smell of smoke, so to speak. When we feel self-sufficient, that is when we are the least self-sufficient and need to surround ourselves with family and friends who can walk with us during troubling times in our lives.

I will highlight a time when a man or woman is most vulnerable – Mid-life crisis. This is a time when a person needs to be open and honest in his or her feeling. If a person has a spouse, it is a good time to confide what you are feeling. That is when a person feels like opportunity to be successful is passing him or her by and now is the time when that person must get all that life has to offer e.g., new sports car, new job, new spouse, etc. LET ME MAKE CLEAR, JOSEPH WAS NOT EXPERIENCING A MID-LIFE CRISIS. POTIPHOR’S WIFE MAY HAVE BUT NOT JOSEPH!

A former pastor, counselor began seeing the signs in himself that he had symptoms of mid-life crisis. He had the foresight and courage to confess it to his wife and asked her to help him as he went through this time in his life. Mid-life crisis can last a short time or as long a ten or more years.

Our study this week reveals the character of Joseph. I state again, He was not in mid-life crisis but he was in a situation where the spouse of the person who owned him made sexual demands toward him. Joseph did the right thing, yet he ended up in prison but all was part of GOD’S plan for Joseph to be guided to be in the right place at the right time.

It is important that Joseph did not succumb to the advances of Potiphar’s wife because he would have not been in GOD’S will. Some spouses who find themselves attracted to another person take it as GOD’S will. DO NOT FALL For THAT LIE! That is Satan baiting the hook to reel you into an ungodly relationship and to defeat your witness for HIM.

How we act and react to the issues we face in our lives reflects our Spiritual maturity and relationship with GOD through our relationship with JESUS.  The issues we face in our lives are Spiritual and relationship building blocks.

Let’s explore!

Let’s read Genesis 39:1-7:

Joseph in Potiphar’s House

39 Now Joseph had been taken to Egypt. An Egyptian named Potiphar, an officer of Pharaoh and the captain of the guards, bought him from the Ishmaelites who had brought him there. ² The Lord was with Joseph, and he became a successful man, serving^[a] in the household of his Egyptian master. ³ When his master saw that the Lord was with him and that the Lord made everything, he did successful, ⁴ Joseph found favor with his master and became his personal attendant. Potiphar also put him in charge of his household and placed all that he owned under his authority.^[b] 5 From the time that he put him in charge of his household and of all that he owned, the Lord blessed the Egyptian’s house because of Joseph. The Lord’s blessing was on all that he owned, in his house and in his fields. ⁶ He left all that he owned under Joseph’s authority;^[c] he did not concern himself with anything except the food he ate.

Joseph had gone from privilege in his own country to servant in another country. How did he react to his new circumstances in life? Who did Joseph realize had not abandoned him? GOD! Did Joseph whine against GOD for his plight in life? NO! He remained faithful to GOD. What would we have done if we had been in Joseph’s shoes? Woe is me or to trust GOD with the outcome?

GOD was blessing Joseph in a mighty way along with his Egyptian master. When we are in right relationship with GOD all that we do, according to HIS will and purpose, is blessed by GOD. We see this in the life of Joseph and it was a witness to Potiphar. Joseph was a strong young man and could have been placed in the fields and out of the sight of Potiphar. Who placed Joseph in the right place at the right time? GOD! All was going well, until -----

Now Joseph was well-built and handsome. ⁷ After some time his master’s wife looked longingly at Joseph and said, “Sleep with me.”

The literal translation of verse 7 is, “she asked Joseph to lie down on the bed next to her.” Step one is to place oneself in a compromising situation. Laying on the bed with her would have make it more difficult for him to run. Laying with her would have moved Joseph closer to her and increase the possibility of Joseph compromising his foundational principles. The winds and storms of sin are strong and blow a person’s Spiritual house off its foundation and its destruction is great and far reaching. Therefore, do not put yourself in a position to compromise your faith in JESUS. Run, run, run from and not toward temptation or compromise!!! When you take action to resist, GOD’S strength comes upon you and a battle with Satan may begin. But Spirit-born people must keep in mind that “greater is HE that is in them than he (Satan) that is in the world. Stand strong and surround yourself with those who will stand with you during this storm in your life.

Lust raised its head in the eyes of Potiphar’s wife. Potiphar’s wife was the aggressor. She approached Joseph. It was decision time for Joseph. He was in a very awkward situation. What would he do? He could not leave and get another master. He had to trust GOD. But when a person trusts GOD and things still not do not according to his or her plan, what do he or she do? We remain steadfast and trust that if we remain faithful, GOD will see us through that time in our lives.

Let’s read Genesis 39:8-10:

⁸ But he refused. “Look,” he said to his master’s wife, “with me here my master does not concern himself with anything in his house, and he has put all that he owns under my authority.^[d] 9 No one in this house is greater than I am. He has withheld nothing from me except you, because you are his wife. So how could I do this immense evil, and how could I sin against God?”

¹⁰ Although she spoke to Joseph day after day, he refused to go to bed with her.^[e] 

Likely the more Joseph resisted her, the more her desire for Joseph intensified. Joseph remained steadfast in his resolve not to succumb to her desires. But she was determined to get what she desired.

What was foundational in Joseph’s heart? Sleeping with her would have been, “So how could I do this immense evil, and how could I sin against God?” Joseph had built his relationship with GOD upon a firm Spiritual foundation and GOD knew his heart toward HIM.

When temptation comes our way that is when what we have built our faith upon is tested – sand or solid rock. JESUS said it best as recorded in Matthew 7:24-25:

²⁴ “Therefore, everyone who hears these words of mine and acts on them will be like a wise man who built his house on the rock. ²⁵ The rain fell, the rivers rose, and the winds blew and pounded that house. Yet it didn’t collapse, because its foundation was on the rock. ²⁶ But everyone who hears these words of mine and doesn’t act on them will be like a foolish man who built his house on the sand. ²⁷ The rain fell, the rivers rose, the winds blew and pounded that house, and it collapsed. It collapsed with a great crash.”

What we build our faith upon is vital to our Spiritual growth and to how we respond when we face the issues of life. We must build upon the solid rock of JESUS and not false notions that we dream up or that we hear from those who tell us they know the truth, including me. Test what you hear and are told against the truth of GOD’S Word and the Holy Spirit within.

Joseph had built upon the solid foundation and he knew that yielding to the offer to sin would have been a sin against GOD. He would have been a party to Potiphar’s wife sinning against her husband and Joseph’s GOD. Just because Potiphar’s wife did not know the One True GOD of Joseph did not make her free from the consequence of sin.

Let’s read Genesis 39:11-12:

¹¹ Now one day he went into the house to do his work, and none of the household servants were there.^[f] 12 She grabbed him by his garment and said, “Sleep with me!” But leaving his garment in her hand, he escaped and ran outside. 

The day came when opportunity gave way to action. Notice, “none of the household servants were there.”^[f] Had Potiphar’s wife orchestrated this day off? Did this make the servants suspicious of what she might be up to?

Joseph went about his daily routine when Potiphar’s wife seized the moment. Joseph had a quick decision to make and he did the right thing and ran outside. But Potiphar’s wife stripped Joseph of his outer garment. In hot climates people wore a thin, white, cotton/linen, loose flowing outer garment to help keep them cool.

GOD was watching these events unfold and likely, so were the other household servants. They had the day off but were they really not around somewhere? The walls have ears and eyes. Nothing is in private then and now. Opportunity often equals trouble. What does a Christian do?  In First Corinthians 10:13, we read - ¹³ No temptation has come upon you except what is common to humanity. But God is faithful; he will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation he will also provide the way out so that you may be able to bear it.

GOD will provide the way to escape and when a person sees the way to escape, he or she must take it!

What was Joseph’s escape route? It was to run away from the situation. Running away is often the best way to escape temptation. Joseph did the right thing but where did it lead him? It led him to prison and a ruined reputation. Joseph knew that he had done the right thing in the sight of GOD and in accordance with what he believed GOD would have him to do. Joseph had a clear conscience and he knew that GOD knew the details of what had happened. In the words of Dr. Vance Havner, “practice in the dark what you learn in the light.”

Yes, many of us will have dark times in their lives. How will we respond? Is our Spiritual house built upon the solid rock of JESUS CHRIST? Building upon the solid rock of JESUS does not mean that we will not be tested. What is important is how solid is our foundation. Does our anchor hold when we encounter the storms in life?

Companies do quality control tests to evaluate the quality of the products being manufactured. GOD allowed Satan to test Job with the provision, Satan could not take Job’s life.

Blessings!!!

 

 

 

 

Bible Study - Pitfalls (1) - The Pitfall of Betrayal - Genesis 37:1-27 - January 23, 2022

 

Bible Study – Pitfalls (1) – The Pitfall of Betrayal – January 23, 2022

This is lesson one (1) in our series entitled, “How to Avoid Life’s Pitfalls.”

Our focus scripture is Genesis 37:1-5, 19-24, 26-27.

GOD is at work, even when it’s not obvious.

This is a wonderful study of GOD’S hands and plans at work even when we do not think HE cares for HIS chosen. We often focus on the coat of many colors in the story of Joseph and fail to focus on the fact that GOD was at work in the lives of HIS chosen children; and still is.

Often, whether we know we are HIS child or we are yet to be HIS child one day, we think the Biblical stories are for those times and not today. Wrong!!! The same GOD, YAHWEH, is alive and active in the affairs of mankind today as in Biblical times. HE has made HIS presence more intimate and personnel through those who are HIS Children through a personal, intimate relationship when a person becomes Spirit-born. How does anyone become GOD’S Child? It is through faith in JESUS. JESUS broke the sin barrier by the shedding of HIS blood on the cross. The shed blood of JESUS removed the sin barrier and opened the path between GOD and all of mankind, which includes, male and female. The path is open but every individual must accept JESUS as his or her Savior. When you accept JESUS as your Savior, HIS divine Spirit joins with your human spirit and you are Spiritually conceived and become GOD’s Child; never ever to become Spiritually unborn.

What does this mean? It means that GOD has a plan for your life and you have the indwelling Holy Spirit to lead and guide you through life.

This actual event in Biblical history is an example of GOD leading, guiding and positioning HIS chosen to be in the right place at the right time to minister and carry out HIS plan and purpose.

Our Biblical account is about Joseph and how GOD guided his life to where GOD desired for him to be at the right place at the right time. We know how the events in Joseph’s life worked out but Joseph did not know until after the fact. That is where each of us are today. That is where trust comes into our life, which results in building of our faith.

Let’s explore!

Let’s read Genesis 37:1-5 (focus); 6-18 (Background):

Jacob lived in the land where his father had stayed, the land of Canaan. ² These are the family records of Jacob.

At seventeen years of age, Joseph tended sheep with his brothers. The young man was working with the sons of Bilhah and Zilpah, his father’s wives, and he brought a bad report about them to their father.

³ Now Israel loved Joseph more than his other sons because Joseph was a son born to him in his old age, and he made a long-sleeved robe^[a] for him. ⁴ When his brothers saw that their father loved him more than all his brothers, they hated him and could not bring themselves to speak peaceably to him.

Satan uses jealousy to produce all sorts of actions within our hearts. GOD uses the actions of others to get us to where HE desires for us to be according to HIS plan and purpose. Often, we do not consider GOD repositioning us as pleasant. We have to look back and see that HE repositioned us to be where HE desired for us to be. Let’s read on.

⁵ Then Joseph had a dream. When he told it to his brothers, they hated him even more. ⁶ He said to them, “Listen to this dream I had: ⁷ There we were, binding sheaves of grain in the field. Suddenly my sheaf stood up, and your sheaves gathered around it and bowed down to my sheaf.”

That was very clear. In Biblical times, GOD communicated through dreams and still does today. The Holy Spirit gives the interpretation and a person must be careful how he or she may interpret the dream. Ask JESUS what it means. I had a very vivid dream and when I awoke, I asked the LORD to reveal the meaning of the dream to me. When I went back to sleep, the Holy Spirit took me back through the dream and interpreted it. That was years ago and it is still unfolding today.

Back to Joseph’s dream:

⁸ “Are you really going to reign over us?” his brothers asked him. “Are you really going to rule us?” So, they hated him even more because of his dream and what he had said.

⁹ Then he had another dream and told it to his brothers. “Look,” he said, “I had another dream, and this time the sun, moon, and eleven stars were bowing down to me.”

¹⁰ He told his father and brothers, and his father rebuked him. “What kind of dream is this that you have had?” he said. “Am I and your mother and your brothers really going to come and bow down to the ground before you?” ¹¹ His brothers were jealous of him, but his father kept the matter in mind.

Maybe Joseph should have kept his dream to himself? No! By Joseph telling his dream we get to see through his life GOD’S plan for him being fulfilled. Life was uncertain for Joseph a number of times during his life upon earth. GOD desires for us to see that HE was always in control and Joseph was faithful.

Is GOD in control of your life? In the words of Dr. Vance Havner, “Practice in the dark what you learn in the light.” Hard to do but often, we have no choice. It is only in retrospect that we see GOD’S hand at work. When we do, that is a building block to grow our faith. It is awesome when we see GOD’S amazing handiwork in our lives. So, do not lose hope as you journey through life. Scripture reveals in Proverbs 3:5-6:

⁵ Trust in the Lord with all your heart,
And lean not on your own understanding;
⁶ In all your ways acknowledge Him,
And He shall ^[a]direct your paths.

The events in the life of Joseph continue to unfold, as we read on --

Joseph Sold into Slavery

¹² His brothers had gone to pasture their father’s flocks at Shechem. ¹³ Israel said to Joseph, “Your brothers, you know, are pasturing the flocks at Shechem. Get ready. I’m sending you to them.”

“I’m ready,” Joseph replied.

¹⁴ Then Israel said to him, “Go and see how your brothers and the flocks are doing, and bring word back to me.” So, he sent him from the Hebron Valley, and he went to Shechem.

¹⁵ A man found him there, wandering in the field, and asked him, “What are you looking for?”

¹⁶ “I’m looking for my brothers,” Joseph said. “Can you tell me where they are pasturing their flocks?”

¹⁷ “They’ve moved on from here,” the man said. “I heard them say, ‘Let’s go to Dothan.’” So, Joseph set out after his brothers and found them at Dothan.

¹⁸ They saw him in the distance, and before he had reached them, they plotted to kill him. 

It so happened that a man spotted Joseph wandering in the field and gave him direction. Yes, GOD positions people in our lives to give us direction to go where HE desires for us to go. Timing and direction are critical. GOD also calls us to point others in the direction HE desires for them to go. It is so beautiful to witness GOD’S direction in our lives. Our part is to follow HIS lead through the Holy Spirit. Can GOD lead a person even before he or she becomes Spirit-born? Absolutely! GOD desires for every person to see his or her need for salvation through faith in JESUS. GOD does not override a person’s freedom to choose. JESUS is a stumbling block that every person has to step over before he or she goes to Hell. In 1 Corinthians 1:23, we read:

²³ but we preach Christ crucified, to the Jews a ^[a]stumbling block and to the ^[b]Greeks (Gentiles) foolishness,

Let’s read Genesis 37:19-24:

¹⁹ They said to one another, “Oh, look, here comes that dream expert!^[b] 20 So now, come on, let’s kill him and throw him into one of the pits.^[c] We can say that a vicious animal ate him. Then we’ll see what becomes of his dreams!”

²¹ When Reuben heard this, he tried to save him from them.^[d] He said, “Let’s not take his life.” ²² Reuben also said to them, “Don’t shed blood. Throw him into this pit in the wilderness, but don’t lay a hand on him”—intending to rescue him from them and return him to his father.

²³ When Joseph came to his brothers, they stripped off Joseph’s robe, the long-sleeved robe that he had on. ²⁴ Then they took him and threw him into the pit. The pit was empty, without water.

²⁵ They sat down to eat a meal, and when they looked up, there was a caravan of Ishmaelites coming from Gilead. Their camels were carrying aromatic gum, balsam, and resin, going down to Egypt.

GOD provides a way to escape. In 1 Corinthians 3:13, we read:

¹³ No temptation has come upon you except what is common to humanity. But God is faithful; he will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation he will also provide the way out so that you may be able to bear it.

GOD’S timing is perfect. GOD provides escape paths for HIS chosen and HE calls those who are in the right place at the right time to assist those who need to be rescued. Reuben stepped up and saved his brother’s life.

In Genesis 37:25, we read - ²⁵ They sat down to eat a meal, and when they looked up, there was a caravan of Ishmaelites coming from Gilead. Their camels were carrying aromatic gum, balsam, and resin, going down to Egypt.

GOD provides when we are chosen for HIS purpose. It does not mean that we won’t face tense moments. The dark times are when we must trust in GOD.

Let’s read Genesis 37:26-27:

²⁶ Judah said to his brothers, “What do we gain if we kill our brother and cover up his blood? ²⁷ Come on, let’s sell him to the Ishmaelites and not lay a hand on him, for he is our brother, our own flesh,” and his brothers agreed. 

Another brother, Judah, stepped up with a business solution for the fate of Joseph. GOD was saving Joseph not only for the future of the Israelites but for the many people in Egypt and surrounding Egypt.

As Christians, when we choose to follow the leadership of the Holy Spirit, we will learn that there are no such things as coincidences. The Bible is clear as recorded in Psalm 37:23 - A person’s steps are established by the Lord, and he takes pleasure in his way.

We have to keep in mind that GOD desires for all people to see the truth and HIS redemptive plan in the life, death, resurrection and ascension of JESUS. Eternal life is in the shed blood of JESUS confirmed by GOD’S resurrection of JESUS from the dead.

You may recall, Ephesians 1:3-8: ³ Blessed is the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavens in Christ. ⁴ For he chose us in him, before the foundation of the world, to be holy and blameless in love before him.^[c] 5 He predestined us to be adopted as sons through Jesus Christ for himself, according to the good pleasure of his will, ⁶ to the praise of his glorious grace that he lavished on us in the Beloved One.

⁷ In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of his grace ⁸ that he richly poured out on us with all wisdom and understanding.^[d]

GOD and JESUS have done their part but each person must do his or her part by accepting JESUS as his or her Savior. Yes, all are chosen but will we accept? The choice is up to each person. Choose wisely!

Blessings!!!

 

Bible Study - Special - Seeking Justice in an Unjust World - Obadiah 1-17 - January 16, 2022

 

Bible Study – Special – Seeking Justice in an Unjust World – January 16, 2022

This is a special lesson inserted between two series of study. It is taking a view of justice in an unjust world.

Our focus scripture is Obadiah 1-4, 10-17

Join GOD in pursuing justice in the face of indifference and oppression through the writing of the Prophet Obadiah. There are several Obadiah’s in the Bible, therefore we do not know much about this Obadiah. We do know that GOD’S message through him was straight, clear, hard and to the point.

This is a very timely lesson. Our scripture goes back to the fraternal twin boys born to Isaac and Rebecca. The boys were Esau and Jacob. Esau was the first born and Jacob followed Esau grasping at Esau’s heel. Scripture tells us that the younger twin, Jacob, would rule over the older twin, Esau. Jacob’s children became the Israelites and Esau’s descendants became the Edomites. Jacob’s ancestral line leads to JESUS.

Background scripture - Genesis 25:19-32:

The Birth of Jacob and Esau – (Hatfield’s and McCoy’s except Jacob and Esau were blood kin – twins)

¹⁹ These are the family records of Isaac, son of Abraham. Abraham fathered Isaac. ²⁰ Isaac was forty years old when he took as his wife Rebekah daughter of Bethuel the Aramean from Paddan-aram and sister of Laban the Aramean. ²¹ Isaac prayed to the Lord on behalf of his wife because she was childless. The Lord was receptive to his prayer, and his wife Rebekah conceived. ²² But the children inside her struggled with each other, and she said, “Why is this happening to me?” ^[k] So she went to inquire of the Lord. ²³ And the Lord said to her:

Two nations are in your womb;
two peoples will come from you and be separated.
One people will be stronger than the other,
and the older will serve the younger.

 

GOD knew this and let nature take its course.

²⁴ When her time came to give birth, there were indeed twins in her womb. ²⁵ The first one came out red-looking,^[l] covered with hair^[m] like a fur coat, and they named him Esau. ²⁶ After this, his brother came out grasping Esau’s heel with his hand. So, he was named Jacob.^[n] Isaac was sixty years old when they were born.

Esau Sells His Birthright

²⁷ When the boys grew up, Esau became an expert hunter, an outdoorsman,^[o] but Jacob was a quiet man who stayed at home.^[p] 28 Isaac loved Esau because he had a taste for wild game, but Rebekah loved Jacob.

²⁹ Once when Jacob was cooking a stew, Esau came in from the field exhausted. ³⁰ He said to Jacob, “Let me eat some of that red stuff, because I’m exhausted.” That is why he was also named Edom.^[q]

³¹ Jacob replied, “First sell me your birthright.”

³² “Look,” said Esau, “I’m about to die, so what good is a birthright to me?”

We fast-forward to Esau and his family growing to become a nation of people living in Petra and being referred to as Edomites. Petra was located in a difficult area to get to, rocky, mountainous area and perfect for defending it. The Edomites had become arrogant and self-sufficient because they felt physically secure and invincible. But GOD is the great equalizer.

Jacob settled in Jerusalem and came under attack from surrounding enemies.

A battle took place and Jerusalem was defeated and ransacked.

The Edomites looked on and rejoiced in the defeat of Jerusalem and they did not come to their aid.

Jerusalem was chosen by GOD. People from far and wide came to Jerusalem to Worship GOD and have the priests to offer sacrifices for their sins. GOD was punishing those who lived in Jerusalem. The Edomites could have come to their aid but instead they looked on what was taking place with an attitude of, “they are getting what they deserve” and did not try to help them.

Yes, those in Jerusalem were being punished by GOD but what is the attitude of GOD/JESUS toward such people? Let’s read Luke 6:35-36:

³⁵ But love your enemies, do what is good, and lend, expecting nothing in return. Then your reward will be great, and you will be children of the Most High. For he is gracious to the ungrateful and evil. ³⁶ Be merciful, just as your Father also is merciful.

GOD led the Prophet Obadiah to write this short overview regarding the attitude of the Edomites toward the Israelites when the Israelites were being defeated by those hostile to her. The Edomites looked on but did not lift a finger to help them. Let’s explore!

This is a lesson about those who could have helped but did not. They gloated in the defeat and ravaging of those less fortunate than they were. It is an attitude that many of us can have toward others, especially those we do not care for. When we do not like a certain person or group of people and bad things happen to them, many generally think they are getting their just desserts. We may have longed for them to get zapped but we did not want to be the ones to zap them. We gloat and GOD hates gloating. HE calls us to help when we can.

We in America have a wonderful opportunity to reach out to be the voice of the many babies being aborted, or reach out to those with various ethnic/social/racial backgrounds who are struggling, our Afghan brothers and sisters who have been uprooted from their homeland and coming to America to begin a new life.  

Did you know that there are over 65,000 Afghans at various military locations in the United States and in other countries seeking asylum in the USA? Samaritans Purse has a program to help relocate them called, Samaritans Purse Afghan Resettlement Program. It is very comprehensive and well thought out.  

There are other people groups from various countries seeking asylum? Do we see them as a nuisance or an opportunity? What does JESUS call us to do?

Let’s explore the words of GOD through the Prophet Obadiah and apply them to us today.

The Edomites thought they were safe and secure because they lived in a high, rugged, safe place hard to get place. As a result, they had become arrogant and self-sufficient. But GOD had a message for them. In essence, don’t let your security keep you from helping or coming to the aid of those in need of your help.

America, this is a message to us. This is not a message for open borders but organized outreach to others in need for various reasons.

Let’s read Obadiah 1-4:

¹ The vision of Obadiah.

Vision generally refers to a supernatural revelation from the LORD. In the book of Revelation, we can read the vision from JESUS, the Apostle John had regarding end-times.

Edom’s Certain Judgment

This is what the Lord God has said about Edom:

We have heard a message from the Lord;
an envoy has been sent among the nations:
“Rise up, and let’s go to war against her.”^[a]
2 Look, I will make you insignificant
among the nations;
you will be deeply despised.
³ Your arrogant heart has deceived you,
you who live in clefts of the rock^[b][c]
in your home on the heights,
who say to yourself,
“Who can bring me down to the ground?”
⁴ Though you seem to soar^[d] like an eagle
and make your nest among the stars,
even from there I will bring you down.
This is the Lord’s declaration.

When we think we are safe and secure that is when we need to pay attention. JESUS told the parable of “A rich man’s land was very productive. ¹⁷ He thought to himself, ‘What should I do, since I don’t have anywhere to store my crops? ¹⁸ I will do this,’ he said. ‘I’ll tear down my barns and build bigger ones and store all my grain and my goods there. ¹⁹ Then I’ll say to myself, “You have many goods stored up for many years. Take it easy; eat, drink, and enjoy yourself.”’

²⁰ “But God said to him, ‘You fool! This very night your life is demanded of you. And the things you have prepared—whose will they be?’

Death is the equalizer. What if we gain the world but lose our soul? Where is our treasure?

Let’s read Obadiah 10-14:

Edom’s Sins against Judah

¹⁰ You will be covered with shame
and destroyed forever
because of violence done to your brother Jacob.

 

Edom’s sin was that they saw that Judah was being punished severely and rather than offering them a helping hand, they joined in with those punishing Judah. The point is a nation had fallen upon hard times and so do our neighbors, friends, relatives and loved ones. Where or to whom can a person turn to when trouble come his or her way? GOD calls those who have the right relationship with HIM to be HIS ambassador. GOD loves you and so do I.

 

We read about GOD’S judgment followed by the reason for HIS judgment and HIS expectations for us:

¹¹ On the day you stood aloof,
on the day strangers captured his wealth,^[g]
while foreigners entered his city gate
and cast lots for Jerusalem,
you were just like one of them.

 

When you sit back and watch and do nothing you become just like those doing the evil deed.

¹² Do not^[h] gloat over your brother
in the day of his calamity;
do not rejoice over the people of Judah
in the day of their destruction;
do not boastfully mock^[i]
in the day of distress.
¹³ Do not enter my people’s city gate
in the day of their disaster.
Yes, you—do not gloat over their misery
in the day of their disaster,
and do not appropriate their possessions
in the day of their disaster.
¹⁴ Do not stand at the crossroads^[j]
to cut off their fugitives,
and do not hand over their survivors
in the day of distress.

 

In verse 12, GOD was punishing HIS chosen people, the Israelites and warned the Edomites about taking advantage of them during this time and adding to their misery. We are to reflect the light of JESUS when others come under GOD’S punishment/wrath. It is not condoning why GOD is punishing those experiencing difficulties but being an encourager and showing GOD’S love in spite of our prejudice.

 

Do not be a party to the evil deeds of others, even though GOD is punishing them. When GOD punishes, those being punished realize that GOD is the disciplinarian. Does that mean we are to add to GOD’S wrath? No! We are to go to them and offer help in the name of JESUS. It still may mean “if you do the crime, you do the time or punishment” as required by the law. Our part as Christians may be to offer food, shelter, transportation, a listening ear, and the list goes on.

 

Let’s read Obadiah 15-17:

Judgment of the Nations

¹⁵ For the day of the Lord is near,
against all the nations.
As you have done, it will be done to you;
what you deserve will return on your own head.
¹⁶ As you have drunk on my holy mountain,
so all the nations will drink continually.
They will drink and gulp down
and be as though they had never been.
¹⁷ But there will be a deliverance on Mount Zion,
and it will be holy;
the house of Jacob will dispossess
those who dispossessed them.^[k]

 

The term, “for the day of the LORD is near”, carries several meanings.

-         To announce the LORD’S judgement on the nation of Israel for its failure to love GOD and love its neighbors.

-         The prophets used this phrase to announce GOD’S deliverance of HIS people from their oppressors.

-         It can be used to reference GOD’S judgment on foreign nations.

-         It can also be used to specify the nation GOD was going to judge.

-         A time when GOD would break the yoke of oppression from the shoulders of the people.

-         In this case, GOD promised HE would bring HIS justice on the Edomites and all the nations soon.

-         What will GOD do? As you have done, it will be done to you;
what you deserve will return on your own head.

What can Christians do? They can speak up for those who do not have a voice. This can be unborn babies, abused children, handicapped, mentally challenged, poor, needy, disabled, elderly, discrimination, abused women or men and the list goes on ----

Opportunity surrounds us as we seek to serve our LORD.

Obadiah reminded the people of the nations that they had tasted the wrath of GOD. There will be payday someday. The house of Jacob will rise again because they are obedient to GOD’S call and will return.

¹⁶ As you have drunk on my holy mountain,
so all the nations will drink continually.
They will drink and gulp down
and be as though they had never been.
¹⁷ But there will be a deliverance on Mount Zion,
and it will be holy;
the house of Jacob will dispossess
those who dispossessed them.^[k]

 

This gives us all hope, especially for those of us who have tasted the love of GOD through faith in JESUS and gone astray. Yes, GOD punishes but HE also welcomes those who repent and come to HIM with open arms. Experiencing GOD’S wrath does not mean there is no hope for us. The real question is, are we experiencing GOD’S wrath or our own bad judgment or stupidity. Often, when we experience issues in our life, it is for our learning experience. In fact, it shows GOD’S love for us. HE disciplines those HE loves. Repent and come back to HIM because GOD loves you, as HIS child. He will welcome you with open arms and put a robe on you, sandals on your feet and a ring on your finger. He will have the fatted calf killed and have a banquet.

Blessings!!!