Relationships

The Book of Obadiah is the shortest book in the Old Testament. The message of Obadiah centers on a relationship. In Israel’s history, two brothers stand out in memory. The sons of Isaac – Jacob and Esau. They are famous for the differences and quarrels that marked their relationship. While restoration eventually occurred, Jacob and Esau are a picture of sibling rivalry. When Obadiah writes, shortly after the Babylonian armies had taken Jerusalem in 586 BC, the ongoing struggle between the descendants of Jacob and the descendants of Esau once again rise to the surface. The nation of Edom is made up of the descendants of Esau. Israelites, the sons of Jacob, flee the destruction of the Babylonians, only to be handed over to their enemies by the Edomites. The Edomites even move into Judean towns and take over Judean homes and lands. As God looks on, He becomes angry over this betrayal. In the eyes of God, relationships are important. How we treat each other is supposed to be a display of God’s love. The apostle John would later write, “By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.” Embedding the Bible means taking a good look at our relationships. How are we displaying the love of Christ in the world today?