The High Price of Pride: A Devotional on Obadiah 1:5
“If thieves came to thee, if robbers by night, ( how art thou cut off!) would they not have stolen till they had enough? if the grapegatherers came to thee, would they not leave some grapes?” — Obadiah 1:5
Obadiah’s short but impactful book speaks of judgment and divine justice, encapsulated in the verse: "If thieves came to thee, if robbers by night, (how art thou cut off!) would they not have stolen till they had enough? if the grapegatherers came to thee, would they not leave some grapes?" (Obadiah 1:5 KJV). In this passage, we observe a profound statement about human nature, pride, and the consequences of our actions.
The backdrop of the book of Obadiah reveals the conflict between Edom and Israel. Edom, descended from Esau, had a long-standing animosity toward Israel, descended from Jacob. This feud culminated in pride and arrogance as Edom took advantage of Israel's misfortunes. Obadiah prophesies against Edom, proclaiming God's impending judgment on a nation that reveled in its arrogance and betrayal.
The imagery of thieves and robbers encapsulates the moral decay that arises from unchecked arrogance. Normally, thieves take only what they want, leaving behind a semblance of grace; robbers at least exercise restraint. Yet the Edomites’ excessive pride led them to think that they could completely eradicate their brother Israel, cutting them off entirely. The rhetorical question Obadiah poses highlights the absurdity of Edom's pride. Robbers usually take only for their need; they do not steal beyond their own satisfaction. Grapegatherers leave behind some produce to allow for future growth and sustenance, showing respect for the land and its owner. But Edom, in its pride, exhibits the same disregard for Israel’s existence.
This scripture prompts us to reflect on the state of our own hearts. Are we acting with the humility that acknowledges our dependence upon God? Or are we indulging in pride and arrogance, pursuing our desires at the expense of others, and perhaps even distancing ourselves from the grace and mercy that God offers?
Pride blinds us to reality—an often invisible cloak that whispers of our superiority over others. Similar to the Edomites who believed they could thrive on their neighbors' downfall, our arrogance can lead us to assume that we are invincible, that our success means we can disregard the wellbeing of those around us. This mindset is a misconception that can lead us, ultimately, to destruction. As James 4:6 reminds us, "God resisteth the proud, but giveth grace unto the humble" (KJV).
Obadiah’s words also serve as a warning that justice will eventually prevail. God does not overlook pride and betrayal. The question, "how art thou cut off?", is accompanied with the notion of judgment. Edom will not escape the consequences of their sins. Just as the thieves and robbers have a limit, so too does God’s patience run its course. This leads us to examine whether we hold attitudes and lifestyles that flaunt carelessness towards others in our lives, particularly those we consider adversaries.
In this age of individualism, we often overlook the importance of community and the call to love our neighbors as ourselves. Those who sow discord and revel in the misfortunes of others must consider the heavy price of such animosity. If we define ourselves by our success at the expense of others, we too risk being "cut off" from the blessings of God’s grace and favor.
Understand, then, that true strength is found in humility, compassion, and love. We are called to reflect God’s nature through acts of kindness and service to those around us. Choose today to be a source of grace and life, rather than destruction and pride. May we cultivate a heart that echoes the humility and generosity that God embodies, leaving behind not just a few grapes, but a bountiful inheritance of love for others, even in the face of conflict. Let us strive to be the vessels that God can use, tearing down walls rather than building them, for it is in humility that we truly thrive in His kingdom.
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Artwork for Obadiah 1:5
Obadiah 1:5 - "If thieves came to thee, if robbers by night, (how art thou cut off!) would they not have stolen till they had enough? if the grapegatherers came to thee, would they not leave some grapes?"
"If thieves came to thee, if robbers by night, (how art thou cut off!) would they not have stolen till they had enough? if the grapegatherers came to thee, would they not leave some grapes?" - Obadiah 1:5
Nehemiah 10:5 - "Harim, Meremoth, Obadiah,"
1 Kings 18:3 - "And Ahab called Obadiah, which was the governor of his house. (Now Obadiah feared the LORD greatly:"
"Harim, Meremoth, Obadiah," - Nehemiah 10:5
Obadiah 1:4
Obadiah 1:1 - "The vision of Obadiah. Thus saith the Lord GOD concerning Edom; We have heard a rumour from the LORD, and an ambassador is sent among the heathen, Arise ye, and let us rise up against her in battle."
1 Kings 18:5 - "And Ahab said unto Obadiah, Go into the land, unto all fountains of water, and unto all brooks: peradventure we may find grass to save the horses and mules alive, that we lose not all the beasts."
1 Chronicles 12:9 - "Ezer the first, Obadiah the second, Eliab the third,"
"And Ahab called Obadiah, which was the governor of his house. (Now Obadiah feared the LORD greatly:" - 1 Kings 18:3
1 Chronicles 27:19 - "Of Zebulun, Ishmaiah the son of Obadiah: of Naphtali, Jerimoth the son of Azriel:"
Obadiah 1:6 - "How are the things of Esau searched out! how are his hidden things sought up!"
1 Kings 18:16 - "So Obadiah went to meet Ahab, and told him: and Ahab went to meet Elijah."
Obadiah 1:17 - "¶ But upon mount Zion shall be deliverance, and there shall be holiness; and the house of Jacob shall possess their possessions."
Obadiah 1:21 - "And saviours shall come up on mount Zion to judge the mount of Esau; and the kingdom shall be the LORD'S."
Obadiah 1:2 - "Behold, I have made thee small among the heathen: thou art greatly despised."
1 Chronicles 3:21 - "And the sons of Hananiah; Pelatiah, and Jesaiah: the sons of Rephaiah, the sons of Arnan, the sons of Obadiah, the sons of Shechaniah."
Obadiah 1:4 – "Though you soar like the eagle and make your nest among the stars, from there I will bring you down."
Obadiah 1:8 - "Shall I not in that day, saith the LORD, even destroy the wise men out of Edom, and understanding out of the mount of Esau?"
Obadiah 1:4 – "Though you soar like the eagle and make your nest among the stars, from there I will bring you down."
1 Chronicles 7:3 - "And the sons of Uzzi; Izrahiah: and the sons of Izrahiah; Michael, and Obadiah, and Joel, Ishiah, five: all of them chief men."
Obadiah 1:10 - "¶ For thy violence against thy brother Jacob shame shall cover thee, and thou shalt be cut off for ever."
"Ezer the first, Obadiah the second, Eliab the third," - 1 Chronicles 12:9
1 Chronicles 9:16 - "And Obadiah the son of Shemaiah, the son of Galal, the son of Jeduthun, and Berechiah the son of Asa, the son of Elkanah, that dwelt in the villages of the Netophathites."
1 Chronicles 9:44 - "And Azel had six sons, whose names are these, Azrikam, Bocheru, and Ishmael, and Sheariah, and Obadiah, and Hanan: these were the sons of Azel."
Obadiah 1:9 - "And thy mighty men, O Teman, shall be dismayed, to the end that every one of the mount of Esau may be cut off by slaughter."
1 Chronicles 8:38 - "And Azel had six sons, whose names are these, Azrikam, Bocheru, and Ishmael, and Sheariah, and Obadiah, and Hanan. All these were the sons of Azel."
Obadiah 1:19 - "And they of the south shall possess the mount of Esau; and they of the plain the Philistines: and they shall possess the fields of Ephraim, and the fields of Samaria: and Benjamin shall possess Gilead."
1 Kings 18:6 - "So they divided the land between them to pass throughout it: Ahab went one way by himself, and Obadiah went another way by himself."
Obadiah 1:20 - "And the captivity of this host of the children of Israel shall possess that of the Canaanites, even unto Zarephath; and the captivity of Jerusalem, which is in Sepharad, shall possess the cities of the south."