In the little book of Obadiah written to the nation of Edom who were proud of their main city which was the rock city of Petra in modern-day Jordan. The city was inside a volcano with the only entrance coming from a very narrow passage (about 9-13 feet across) that winds around through steep cliffs for over a mile until it opens up into a large natural amphitheater whose walls have been carved into living quarters for over 100,000 people. The Edomites thought Petra impregnable as it was easily defended by 12 men. Edom’s pride in their security was the cause of their downfall. This suggests to us that there is a direct correlation between personal fulfillment in God’s blessing upon our lives and the continual dying to the “old man” of our pride. Could our lack be due to what James spoke of in this saying in James 4:3, “You ask and do not receive, because you ask amiss, that you may spend it on your pleasures”? Until the destruction of our prideful Edom, we shall never possess the mountains of Esau, nor the fields. God longs to expand the borders of His children if only they would cut off the Edom and his arrogance. It is at that time that captives shall possess all the cities.
Pride causes us to be independent from God. Edom became arrogant because they dwelt in the rock, but she could have known the security of dwelling upon the rock! And such a heart kept Edom from the blessings God would have lavished upon her. But pride also caused Edom to be insensitive to those around them, even their own family. Instead of seeing that God had blessed them to be a blessing, Edom thought of their blessings as coming from their own resources and, as such, saw themselves as superior to those around them as they became indifferent, mocking, and even participating in the suffering of others. Oh, let us learn the lessons spoken by Obadiah lest we become like Edom instead of Israel.