God sent the prophet Obadiah to let them know that judgment was coming because of their pride and rebellious attitudes and behaviors. Obadiah tells the story of two nations, Israel and Edom, a country whose capital city was Petra, a fortress chiseled out of red sandstone rock.
When Judah and Jerusalem were attacked by the Babylonians in 586 BC, the Edomites did nothing to help them. Rather, they gloated and rejoiced as they watched Babylon conquer their sister nation. After the battle was over, the Edomites plundered Jerusalem’s wealth, captured the Israelites who were trying to flee, and turned them over to the Babylonians.
The hatred between Judah and Edom began with the story of Jacob and Esau. Esau was born before his twin brother Jacob, and as firstborn, he expected a special birthright, a double portion of the family estate, and a special blessing from his father. Rebekah (who favored Jacob) conspired so that Jacob would get the birthright and the blessing rather than Esau. Jacob went along with his mother’s plans and successfully tricked Esau not only into selling him his birthright—in exchange for some stew—but into getting his father Isaac to give his special blessing to him rather than to Esau.
As a result, Esau held a grudge against Jacob, and planned to kill him. Esau nursed his resentment and bitterness for the rest of his life and passed his grudge on to his children. That seed of hatred, unforgiveness and resentment was planted deep in the hearts of Esau’s descendants, the Edomites. Centuries after the initial 'falling out' between Jacob and Esau, Edom was still raging with anger and resentment toward their brother nation Israel. When Israel was set free from bondage in Egypt, the Edomites refused to allow Israel to travel through their country to the Promised Land.
When God used Babylon to bring judgment upon Israel for their sin, Edom celebrated. Through the prophet Obadiah, God informed Edom that judgment would come to them because of their pride and refusal to repent of their resentment toward Israel.
Resentment continues to spread its poison everywhere in our world today. We see its destructive effects at work all around us. Through the book of Obadiah God wants us to know how much He hates pride, resentment and bitterness because it hurts, divides, and destroys our lives and our relationship with Him and others. In His time and His way, He will bring judgment on those who, like the Edomites, refuse to repent of their pride and resentment. Resentment always hurts you more than it does the person you’re angry with.
We've all been hurt by others and we've all said things and done things that have hurt others. So what will you do with that pain?
Cure for resentment:
1. Surrender your pride to God. Jesus said: ‘But if you do not forgive men their sins, your Father will not forgive your sins” (Matthew 6:15). Humility is stronger than bitterness. Humility trusts justice to God.
2. Take the initiative to heal the relationship. Talk to God first, then talk to the person who hurt you. Go tactfully. Go humbly. Go with the intent of restoring the relationship, not hammering him into the ground with condemnation.
3. Bless those who have hurt you. Refuse to do to them what they have done to you. Don’t rejoice in their troubles.
4. Choose to forgive. Forgiveness is a decision not a feeling. Forgiveness says, “I’ll take the hit. I’ll bear the pain as Jesus did.”
There is no miracle like the miracle of grace and forgiveness. Put your resentment at the foot of the cross and leave it there.