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"For the LORD has spoken"

Text: Obadiah 18

THE DIVINE WILL OF GOD

Edom had not reckoned with the power of the will of God in all its considerations. His divine will was made known through Obadiah.

“‘The house of Jacob shall be a fire,
And the house of Joseph a flame;
But the house of Esau shall be stubble;
They shall kindle them and devour them,
And no survivor shall remain of the house of Esau.’
For the LORD has spoken.”
Obadiah 18

1. The house of Jacob and the house of Esau

a) They were compared and contrasted.

b) Sharp differences to be noted.

2. The house of Joseph

a) Joseph might well be said to be the most blessed of all the children of Israel.

b) It was an honour to see how the house of Joseph was used to represent Israel as a nation.

c) A number of significant things to be noted about Joseph:

i) Two of his sons, Ephraim and Manasseh became two tribes of Israel.

ii) To no one else was such an honour given.

iii) He was arguably the one who brought the highest of blessing to Israel.

3. Two radically different imageries deployed:

a) Edom was simply declared as “stubble”.

i) Virtually worthless.

ii) To be trodden underfoot.

b) Both Jacob and Joseph were described as “fire”.

i) Fire would consume stubble.

ii) So it would be one day.

iii) Jacob would overwhelm and consume Edom.

4. The solemn and sad fate of Esau/ Edom

a) It would pose a threat no longer.

b) It would receive just recompense.

c) There would be no survivors. This would be Edom’s fate.