The Tale of Two Brothers
One Year Bible: Dec. 13
Obadiah 1:1-21
The Tale of Two Brothers
The book of Genesis tells us the tale of two brothers who were fraternal twins at birth but not in heart!
In fact, these two babies weren’t even born before their struggle began in the womb. Rebekah, their mother, inquired of the Lord about this struggle.
Here is what God said, “Two nations are in your womb, two people shall be separated from your body, one people shall be stronger than the other, and the older will serve the younger.” (Genesis 25:23)
After nearly twenty years of marriage, Rebekah miraculously became pregnant by God’s grace with twins. The Complete Jewish Bible translates the struggle in her womb in this way, “The children fought with each other inside her so much that she said, ‘If it’s going to be this way, why go on living?”
To say they had a “Rocky Start” would be an understatement!
The two wrestled in her womb, and as Esau, the firstborn, was entering the world, Jacob “held the foot of Esau,” we are told.
You see, Esau was the firstborn who would have had the Jewish privilege of receiving the birthright given to the firstborn son, but from the start, Jacob was reaching out to gain that privilege. This was the foreshadowing of what was shortly to come…
If you recall the story of Jacob and Esau, you know that Jacob was the one who made “the stew,” and Esau was the one who “STEWED” because he placed more value on satisfying his “HANGRY” than in preserving his blessing.
When our daughter was little, her cousin made a deal with her to trade her “iPod” for a Starbucks drink! So, I “Get” this story, and so does she. I have learned to watch over her when she is thirsty because she would probably trade our car for a drink if you offered to take her through the drive-through…
Esau had problems in “the drive-through” area as well… and those problems changed the destiny of his life and all generations to come!
Jacob tricked his dying father with his mother’s help and got himself “the birthright” while his brother got “a bowl of stew”...
So, why are we talking about this “Tale of Two brothers” as we read the shortest book in the Old Testament, Obadiah?
This book is the story of the outcome of the conflict between Jacob and Esau…
The lineage of Esau is known as the Edomites, and the nation from Judah is known as Judah, God’s chosen “Blessed people.” Yes, they got the “blessing” that Esau threw away.
The short story for this very short book is that the Edomites HATED the nation of Judah. HATED might be a bit of an understatement… But it started with Esau being “HANGRY,” and it grew from there!
You see, Esau certainly believed that he had “a right” to be angry with his brother. It wasn’t fair, and so he believed that he had a reason for bitterness, wrath, jealousy, and every evil that followed in their relationship for decades to come.
There is only one little problem with Esau’s problem… He found himself FIGHTING GOD! Okay, it was actually a HUGE problem, and it not only caused his downfall, but it also caused the downfall and destruction of Edom.
The book of Obadiah teaches us a vital lesson that God’s treatment of Edom is based on how they treated HIS chosen people, Judah.
How do we treat people in God’s kingdom?
Do you feel that you have been wronged, overlooked, and treated unfairly?
Do you ever feel “HANGRY,” like you got a Starbucks and someone else took off with your car in the drive-through?
The Tale of Two Brothers reminds us of the Truth of ONE BODY… God is sovereign. We are not! He can choose to lower whomever He wishes and raise up those that He calls…
These people were “DRUNK” or “Gulped Down” God’s judgment (16-17) because they were filled with bitterness and self-focus.
In this time of upcoming judgment, may we fix our eyes on God and forgive those that we feel have done us wrong. God is the judge. We are not!
Take it from Esau; don’t “STEW” on it…This is the Tale of Two Brothers.
