‘The exiles of this host of the people of Israel shall possess the land of the Canaanites as far as Zarephath, and the exiles of Jerusalem who are in Sepharad shall possess the cities of the Negeb. 21 Saviours shall go up to Mount Zion to rule Mount Esau, and the kingdom shall be the Lord’s.’
Obadiah 20–21.
In these verses God shows the culmination of the prophecy over Edom and Israel. One day, the Israelites, the exiles of Jerusalem, that were once outcasts and looked down upon, will become landowners. They will have provision, not just for themselves, but will also become ‘saviours’ for others. Mount Esau will also be transformed - From a place of pride and self-sufficiency to a kingdom where God reigns.
God can turn lives around.
God doesn’t design things to be destroyed. He didn’t want the Edomites to suffer and be wiped out, but the way they were going was already destroying themselves and those around them. These people of Edom had become sinful and a terror for people following God. They led others to persecute and kill the Israelites and they were proud of it. In this book God is showing how that is going to change. No more will His people be those that are abandoned, alone and without, but they will have their own place, their own land and they will prosper. Those that were once kicked out, dragged off, persecuted, bedraggled and mistreated will become owners, leaders and helpers. They will transform the mountain where their enemy lived into one where God's kingdom is. Where truth, justice and love prevail so much so that ‘saviours’ will be there. There will be those available to help, heal and lead the people of God into real freedom. Not the perceived freedom the Edomites had been living where everyone did what they wanted in order to get what they wanted.
This is a radical turn-around of events. The place of worldy prosperity and self-sufficiency (Mount Esau) is promised to become a place led by God! It seems unbelievable and unreal, but God can turn any life, any situation and any place around. No matter the current circumstances, your history, or what you’ve got yourself into - there is hope, and there is rescue available. God can turn your life around if you let Him.
If you are feeling like you are stuck, that there are things that are coming against you, or that you've got involved in things that you wish you hadn't, then you can ask God to intervene. You can call out to Him and ask for rescue. Ask Him to remove you from the place of Edom, to send you 'saviours' - people who can help you out of this mess. There are people willing and able to help because they too have been saved by the love of God through the greatest saviour, his son, Jesus.
If you ask God to change your life, He will. It will mean some changes required from you too - after all, you have changed the rulership. When you ask God for help, you give Him permission to be the commander of your life, not you. This is because when you are in control, look where it ends up - becoming fed up of the drive for independence and self-gratifying behaviour, never being satisfied, stuck in a never-ending loop seeking self-fulfilment which brings chaos, destruction and defeat. When you invite God in to help you, God will invite you to make a change and invite you to the place where He reigns. This will turn your life around.
We see how God had a plan for the Edomites and the Israelites in this book of Obadiah. He also has a plan for your life. A plan where you will have possession over some things, where you will be provided for, and have purpose as well as the ability to lead others to salvation. Your life can be transformed when you trust God. You can escape the torment and suffering of years gone by, and have a prosperous future prepared for you. You can be transformed from feeling forgotten and downtrodden to being recognised, safe and given purpose.
God promises to turn your life around - will you let Him?
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