Obadiah makes it clear that no matter what life might look like to God’s people today, they can be sure that God will intervene in history to bring judgment on sinners and to rescue his people. As the people of Israel are weeping in Jerusalem because of their city having been destroyed, as they are standing on the banks of the rivers in Babylon crying because they are no longer in the land that God has given to them (Psalm 137:1–9), Obadiah comforts God’s people with a promise. The promise that God makes through Obadiah is that he will bring judgment on Edom and he will rescue his people. He will remember the promises he made to Jacob and his descendants. Edom will be punished for their actions against Israel.
Today, we can be tempted to think that God is no longer involved in history, as though world events are taking place outside of his control. Obadiah teaches us that this is not true. God is in control of history, and he is actively involved in our world even if it does not look like that to us or we do not understand why God allows certain things to happen. In these circumstances we need to be reminded that God is working all things for his glory. He works in this world to bring judgment against wicked men. He works in this world to rescue his people.
We do not know what God’s timing is. Sometimes it can seem to us as if God is allowing evil and wicked people to flourish and we, just like the people of Israel, can become despondent and unsure. A question we often ask is, Is it worth obeying God when wicked people who ignore him seem to prosper? We must remember, however, that God will punish all sin and evil. As a just judge, God will punish sinners both now and in eternity.
As Christians, we must never fear God’s judgment. Jesus Christ has been punished in our place for our sins, so we do not experience God’s judgment. God has intervened in this world to bring about our rescue. In Christ he has rescued us from the penalty we deserve for our sins. We have already been judged by God in Christ. That means that the pains and trials we experience in this life are not judgements from God. When we suffer it is not because God is angry with us, but because God is disciplining us. Hebrews 12:4–12 makes it clear that the hardships we experience in this world as Christians are not God’s judgement upon us, but God’s discipline. He is sending these difficult circumstances upon our path in order to nurture and grow our faith. He is disciplining us for our good, just like a father disciplines his child. This discipline is meant to help us grow in righteousness. It is meant to help us grow in faith in God.
If we are convinced that the hardships and pain that we experience in this world are discipline and not judgment, that means that we can be patient when things go against us. Because we know that God is our Father who loves us, and that he is in complete control of this world, we know that things that go against us are things that he has sent upon our path for our good. This knowledge also helps us to be thankful when things go well because we know it is not our own goodness that results in blessing but God’s grace. Ultimately, knowing that God is in control and working all things for our good should give us great confidence for our future that no matter what happens to us today, we can be sure that nothing in creation will separate us from God’s love (Romans 8:31–39). All creatures are so completely in God’s hand that without his will they can neither move nor be moved.
1 The vision of Obadiah.