Brotherly Shove

Thirty days… twenty-one verses… yes, I've been a little thin on blog material this month.  So I've been doing a little related supplemented reading, digging at the roots of Obadiah planted in Genesis chapters 25 & 27 and the well-known story of Jacob & Esau.

I'm always intrigued by fulfilled prophecy, and the historical events that both precede and follow the message of Obadiah fit the bill.  Let's take a look…

"Isaac was forty years old when he married Rebekah… Isaac prayed to the LORD on behalf of his wife, because she was barren. The LORD answered his prayer, and his wife Rebekah became pregnant.  The babies jostled each other within her, and she said, "Why is this happening to me?" So she went to inquire of the LORD.  The LORD said to her, 'Two nations are in your womb, and two peoples from within you will be separated; one people will be stronger than the other, and the older will serve the younger'." (Genesis 25:20-23)

As the centuries passed, that prophecy was clearly fulfilled as the nation of Israel, descended from younger brother Jacob, clearly overshadowed the nation of Edom, descended from older brother Esau.  The fulfillment of that prophecy is a fascinating example of God's providence at work in spite of (or, dare I say, through) man's depravity.  Israel's superiority came as a direct result of Jacob's con games (Genesis 25 & 27) which turned the cultural norms upside down and landed him both the birthright and blessing due his older brother Esau.

After convincing his blind father that he was the firstborn Esau, Jacob received the following blessing, intended for his older brother:

"May God give you of heaven's dew and of earth's richness – an abundance of grain and new wine.  May nations serve you and peoples bow down to you. Be lord over your brothers, and may the sons of your mother bow down to you. May those who curse you be cursed and those who bless you be blessed" (Genesis 27:28-29).

Upon realizing he had been duped, Isaac offered the following blessing - a disappointing consolation prize for sure - to the unfortunate Esau:

"Your dwelling will be away from the earth's richness, away from the dew of heaven above.  You will live by the sword and you will serve your brother. But when you grow restless, you will throw his yoke from off your neck" (Genesis 27:39-40).

I suppose it could be debated whether a patriarchal blessing qualifies as a divine prophecy.  But in this case, given the lands eventually inhabited by the brothers' progeny, as well as the political and military superiority of Israel over Edom, there's no arguing that the predictions were accurate.

Ironically, the complete realization of Esau's blessing is what led to prophecies of Obadiah.  Edom did indeed grow restless and throw off the yoke of Israel.  But in doing so, by joining forces with Israel's foes, the Edomites not only fulfilled the prophetic blessing of Isaac but also incurred the wrath and judgment of God.

So what do I take away from this somewhat convoluted course of history?  It's not terribly profound, but… "God will accomplish His purposes."  It may take a looooong time, and it may even look at times like humanity has thwarted the plans of divinity.  But we would all do well to remember that the God who does not lie spoke these words through His prophet Obadiah: "The day of the LORD is near for all nations. As you have done, it will be done to you; your deeds will return upon your own head."