Stumbling Blocks Series

The problem with pride is that it poisons your perspective. Edom was proud because in the face of Jerusalem falling to the Babylonians, they felt their capital “Petra” was impenetrable. http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-d2LAsWC6lp8/U9Z6lnB_oGI/AAAAAAAB1Ag/Rn4Ze1xapaQ/s1600/DSC_0121.jpg Petra is built in the rock mountains and the opening is only 40 feet wide at its max and 12 ft. at its narrowest. This is why they said it only took 20 men to guard the city of Petra because they could hurl down boulders from atop the rocks on any attacking armies. You see they thought that what happened to Jerusalem could never happen to them. Paul warns, “So, if you think you are standing firm, be careful that you don’t fall!” 1 Corinthians 10:12 But Edom did eventually fall to the same Babylonians that conquered Israel. “ In Jeremiah 27:2-6, God calls Babylon “My servant” because God used them to defeat Israel when they wouldn’t repent and turn back to Him. And Edom didn't either and so Obadiah prophesizes that Edom will fall too. How many people were filled with pride, like the Edomites, thinking, “No economic downturn can touch me?” How many banks and companies said, “We’re too big to fail!”? Pride keeps us from being dependent on God and instead places our trust in ourselves, our abilities and our resources. Pride says, “I don’t need anyone else because I can make it on my own.” And when that’s the case, God can’t bless you. Because if He does, you’ll think that you’re the reason for the blessing. Pride keeps us from understanding who we are in God. Do you know why God opposes pride? Because it robs you of what you can become.

The second stumbling block is hate and anger because they distort Your decisions. Edom hated Israel because they were the descendants of Esau. To understand that, go back to the story of Abraham who had a son named Isaac. Now Isaac had twins - Esau and his brother Jacob. Esau was born first and thus the rightful heir to his father’s estate. Jacob stole that blessing by pretending to be Esau to his blind father and then being blessed by his father. As a result, Esau vowed to kill Jacob. Now many generations later, there was still this tension between the descendants of Jacob (Israel) and the descendants of Esau (Edom). In fact, when the children of Israel left Egypt and were on their way to the Promised Land (Num. 20), Edom said they couldn’t pass through Edom on their way.

So when Jerusalem was facing destruction at the hand of the Babylonians, Edom laughs, mocks, gloats, and boasts. Where do you have to be in life when you see someone else beat down to the point of losing their life and you’re happy? That’s what anger and hatred does. Instead of weeping because their brother was being defeated, they laughed. Instead of examining themselves when God allowed Babylon to conquer Israel, Edom mouthed off. Instead of helping Israel, they took advantage of Israel and stole from those who were fleeing destruction. The main road that connected Africa and the Middle East is called “The King’s Highway”. http://www.generationword.com/devotions/photos-diagrams/pics-images/feb-photos/Moses-transjordan-1250.jpg The Hebrews took that road out of Egypt in 1450 B.C. and 3,500 years later it’s still there. On the King’s Highway, you could get anywhere. If the people of Jerusalem made it to the King’s Highway, that meant they escaped Israel and would have been free. But what did these refugees encounter on the King’s Highway, none other than the people of Edom who stole what meager belongings they had. How does someone do that? When hate and anger rule.