Investing in Securities
Read Obadiah 1:1-21
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1. This is the vision that the Sovereign Lord revealed to Obadiah concerning the land of Edom. We have heard a message from the Lord that an ambassador was sent to the nations to say, “Get ready, everyone! Let’s assemble our armies and attack Edom!”
2. The Lord says to Edom, “I will cut you down to size among the nations; you will be greatly despised.
3. You have been deceived by your own pride because you live in a rock fortress and make your home high in the mountains. ‘Who can ever reach us way up here?’ you ask boastfully.
4. But even if you soar as high as eagles and build your nest among the stars, I will bring you crashing down,” says the Lord. . . .
7. “All your allies will turn against you. They will help to chase you from your land. They will promise you peace while plotting to deceive and destroy you.” Obadiah 1:1-4, 7
Everyone gets a sense of security from something or someone. For young children, security may be found in a blanket or the arms of a parent. For adults it may be in a career, a big salary, or a relationship with a spouse.
Obadiah’s little book is about securities—false securities to be exact. Edom, one of Israel’s neighbors, has developed a false sense of security in the safety of their homeland (the cliffs, crags, and caves of Petra in modern-day Jordan). Their sense of security may have even led them to commit hateful acts against Israel. As you read, you will see that despite Edom’s strategic location, they are not invulnerable. God will make sure of that.
The Edomites felt secure and were proud of their self-sufficiency. They lived in homes protected by high, inaccessible cliffs. Looking around, they analyzed their situation and thought, “Who can ever reach us way up here?” (Obadiah 1:3). God didn’t appreciate their pride, however, and he wasn’t happy with the way they were treating Israel (their relatives through Esau). Therefore, God sent Obadiah to the Edomites with a message of impending doom: The security they found in the cliffs would be their downfall, literally, as their friends and allies would turn against them and take their land.
Placing one’s security in something other than God, such as a job, a family, a retirement plan, a relationship, or intellect is foolish—they can disappear in a moment. Only God is strong, sure, lasting, and trustworthy. Only he can supply true security.
Don’t be like the Edomites. Don’t rely only on yourself and your position. Recognize your vulnerability, ask God for help, and find your security in him.
