Day 347
Obadiah 1-21; Revelation 4:1-11; Psalm 132:1-18; Proverbs 29:24-25
Don’t Anger the Momma Bear
As I was reading Obadiah, the image of an angry ‘momma bear’ came to mind. My wife will tell you that as easygoing and peace-loving as she is, she becomes a momma bear if anyone harms her children in any fashion, and you don’t want to mess with Momma Bear. She, like all mothers, is very protective of her children. We raise our children as God raises us as His children, using discipline and punishment but always with love and mercy. Israel and Judah were being punished for their behavior but that didn’t give permission for Edom to take advantage of their brothers and sisters. Obadiah was relaying the same message to the Edomites. They were about to feel the wrath of the Great Momma Bear, God. The Edomites were a strong and rugged arrogant people descendants of Esau which made them blood relatives of Israel, and yet they not only didn’t go to their kin’s rescue, they actually gloated over the misfortune of Israel, captured Jews who were fleeing, turned them over to the enemy and even looted Israel’s countryside. Because of their blatant arrogance and persecution of their brothers and sisters, they were not going to escape God’s punishment. “The day of the Lord is near for all nations. As you have done, it will be done to you” (Obadiah 15). Today the ‘holy nation’ is God’s church and all his “adopted children” are under his love and protection.
The Rev. Ed Bartle
St. Edward’s
Mt. Dora, FL