The Rise and Fall of Pride
Devotions for Growing Christians
The Rise and Fall of Pride
Obadiah 3 - The arrogance of your heart has deceived you.
Obadiah 12 - Do not gloat over your brother's day of misfortune.
Obadiah 15 - Your dealings will return on your own head.
Read the whole book of Obadiah.
The little book of Obadiah is the shortest book in the Old Testament. You almost have to use the Table of Contents in your Bible to find it! Obadiah is only 21 verses long, but it packs a powerful message - a message about God's judgment of pride. Although this little book of Scripture was written centuries ago, it is very applicable today. Is any one of us totally free from the problem of pride?
The prophecy of judgment in the book of Obadiah was addressed to the people of Edom, who were the descendants of Esau. (See Genesis 36.) The Edomites settled in the region south of the Dead Sea, and they built a powerful nation there. However, as a nation, Edom did not follow the Lord. They followed in the steps of their godless forefather, Esau. (See Hebrews 12:16.)
Although other Old Testament prophets predicted the doom of Edom, Obadiah's prophecy is the most comprehensive. (See Isaiah 34; Jeremiah 49; Ezekiel 25, 35; Amos 1.)
The Rise of Pride
A significant portion of the land of Edom was rugged mountainous terrain that was easily defended. As a result, the people of Edom became proud, thinking that they were invulnerable in their lofty mountain strongholds - even invulnerable to God! But God denounced their arrogance, and He pronounced judgment upon the proud nation. They were deceived in thinking that they were secure in their "impregnable" fortresses. The Lord declared that they would certainly be humbled. He Himself would bring them down.
A false sense of security is always a result of pride. "Having it made" in career success, athletic ability, appearance - even in the ministry - often gives rise to pride. (See Hosea 13:6.) Invariably associated with that pride is the "Edom attitude”: “I am superior to those around me, and therefore I am invulnerable. No one can touch me!” And “Nothing can hold me back. Even God would have a hard time pulling me down!”
Do you know anyone like that? Do we tend to exhibit that attitude when everything is going our way? Has the arrogance of our own hearts deceived us? Remember that "Pride goes before a fall" (Proverbs 16:18). Obadiah’s prophecy to Edom is God's Word to us!
Superior Attitude
Another reason for the rise of pride was Edom’s wealth and knowledge. The nation of Edom was located at a crossroads of the ancient world. Trade routes from Egypt and the Gulf of Aqaba in the south merged in Edom, with northern routes coming from Syria and Mesopotamia. The well-known “King's Highway,” that Edom refused to let Israel use (Numbers 20:14-22), was one of these trade routes. As a result of her considerable control over the trade of the ancient world, Edom grew rich. And as an international crossroads with constant break-throughs and up-to-date advances in every field of learning, Edom was full of worldly wisdom.
The wealth and wisdom of Edom made her a proud and arrogant nation. But again the Lord declared that she would be humbled (vs59). All her wealth would be seized. Most thieves don't take everything, but Edom's conquerors would completely ransack and clean them out (vs5-6). Her allies would become her plunderers (v7). And Edom's wisdom would also come to nothing. The counsel and understanding of her wise men would vanish, because Edom would no longer exist (vs8-9).
The fulfillment of Obadiah's prophecy against Edom can be seen today in modern-day Jordan. A visit to the ruins of Petra, the capital of ancient Edom is convincing proof of the accuracy of Bible prophecy. The former grandeur of this strategic city can be seen as one approaches this "inaccessible" mountain citadel. The magnificent ruins of the once-proud city are entered through a narrow canyon that cuts between towering walls of sheer rock. But the streets and buildings of this ghostly city have long since been deserted. The nation and people of Edom have all disappeared, in fulfillment of God's prophetic Word through Obadiah.
We all know that the accumulation of wealth and wisdom by people today may result in pride - and growing Christians are not immune to this problem. Disparities in economic and academic status are leading causes of factions within churches and fellowship groups, and behind this status-consciousness is the sin of pride.
If you think you are free of pride in these areas, try fellowshipping with believers who are less fortunate than you are in finances or education, and see if you can avoid a slight feeling of superiority or condescension. A clear warning to Christians who are proud because of what they have accumulated is found in the message to the lukewarm church at Laodicea "You say, `I am rich; I have acquired wealth and do not need a thing.' But you do not realize that you are wretched, pitiful, poor, blind and naked" (Revelation 3:17).
Even the accumulation of biblical knowledge and spiritual truth can give rise to pride! Do we view Christians of other evangelical churches or groups or ministries as being in a somewhat inferior position with God compared to our church? Do we (almost unconsciously) feel a little superior to fellow believers who don't have as good a knowledge of doctrine as we do? Spiritual pride can be most subtle, but it is no more acceptable with the Lord than any other form of pride. It too must fall under the discipline and judgment of God. Obadiah's prophecy of judgment on Edom is certainly a warning to the people of God today.
Sinful Actions
The people of Edom were not only guilty of a superior attitude - they were guilty of sinful actions as well (vs1014). The people of Judah were descendants of Jacob, the twin brother of Esau so Edom and Israel were “brothers.” But when Judah was invaded, the people of Edom stood by and gloated over their distress and defeat (vs11-12). Not only did they cheer on the attackers of Jerusalem, but they blocked the escape of the fleeing fugitives and either killed them or imprisoned them. The Edomites actually participated in the looting that followed the defeat (v13-14).
There were several invasions of Jerusalem in Old Testament times, and the date of the invasion mentioned by Obadiah cannot be identified, but the point of Obadiah's prophecy cannot be missed. The cruel actions of the Edomites were inexcusable and would be judged (vs15-21). Edom could not escape God's standards of judgment for the nations. "As you have done, it will be done to you. Your dealings will return on your own head." (v15).
Blessing for Israel
In contrast to the prediction of judgment on Edom was the prophecy of future blessing on Israel - the very people the Edomites had gloated over and despised (v17). The descendants of Jacob would actually possess the territory of the descendants of Esau, and the House of Esau would disappear (vs18-19). At the end of his prophecy, Obadiah foretold the complete fulfillment of blessing for Israel in all its details would await the coming of the Lord's kingdom on earth, that is still future (v21).
However, the prophecy of Edom's destruction began to be fulfilled as early as the Babylonian conquest under Nebuchadnezzar in the 6th century BC. (Obadiah may have written as early as the 9th century BC.) Then, during the 5th and 4th centuries BC, an Arab people, the Nabataeans, drove the Edomites out of their mountain strongholds and into the area south of Judea known as Idumea. During the time of the Maccabees in the 2nd century BC, Obadiah's prophecy was further fulfilled when the Jews subdued the Idumeans and forced them to accept Judaism. The notorious Herods were Idumeans, but by their time in the 1st century AD, the identity of the House of Esau had completely disappeared.
The Fall of Pride
The rise and fall of pride follows the same pattern in nations today as in ancient Edom. With growth and prosperity comes a superior attitude. Along with this vanity comes a heartless aloofness to the crying needs of other people. When rival nations make mistakes or experience defeat, national gloating may secretly take place - masked, of course, by token public statements of official sympathy. It isn't long before proud nations take cruel action against the dissidents within the nation, or against other less powerful nations.
These sinful actions call for God's judgment. The humiliating fall of the proud nation may be somewhat delayed because of God's patience and long-suffering, but it will come. History is filled with illustrations. The rise and fall of the Third Reich is an obvious example. See Ezekiel 38 and 39 for the final chapters in Russia's rise and fall pattern. Has our own nation fallen into the Edom pattern? Let us pray that we would be preserved from reaching the point of no return.
The way of pride takes the same course in individuals as in nations. Words and actions that hurt other people go hand in hand with a superior attitude. Secret gloating when rivals blow it or suffer a setback is a step downward in the direction of cruelty. Unchecked pride makes it easier and easier to take advantage of people.
And Christians are not blameless in this area. It is a shameful smear on the name of Christ when proud Christians cut one another down with derogatory comments and hurtful actions. Let’s be very careful that such deadly pride is not on the rise in our own hearts.
God's way of dealing with such sin has not changed since the time of Obadiah's prophecy. God's rule of judgment in verse 15 is repeated in the New Testament in Galatians 6:7. "Whatsoever a man sows, that shall he also reap." The fall of pride is as certain as its rise. No nation or corporation or individual can change the way God deals with pride. It would be a good thing for all of us to periodically read the book of Obadiah to be aware of - and be warned against - the danger of pride.
- Dave Reid