A Family Defends Each Other

Scripture: Obadiah 10-11

“Because of violence to your brother Jacob,
You will be covered with shame,
And you will be cut off forever.
“On the day that you stood aloof,
On the day that strangers carried off his wealth,
And foreigners entered his gate
And cast lots for Jerusalem—
You too were as one of them.

Insights: The passage we are going to be looking at this week comes from the book of Obadiah.  It is a small little book which is a judgment against the nation of Edom.  The Edomites were descendants of Esau, who was Jacob’s older twin brother.  In the verses this week we are going to see the way the Edomites treated the children of Israel and in seeing their response we see the way we ought to treat family.  In today’s verses we find that when Babylon came and laid siege against the nation of Judah that the Edomites did nothing to defend their brothers.  In fact, they were coming along side and making raids themselves from time to time to help with the subjection of the people of Judah.  Beloved, these truths this week do not only apply to our families by blood and name, but also to the family of God.  We ought to live at peace with our family.  We ought to be the first ones to come along side and defend our family when attacks come.  The problem is that often times the attacks come from within our families.  It is our very own flesh and blood that attack us and cause us the most pain.  This sad reality ought not to be.  When attacks are coming we ought to be the first people to come along side of them and encircle them and help them defeat these assaults.  Beloved, do not stand aloof and watch your family be covered in shame.  Live at peace with them and defend them from the evil of our adversary, which is ultimately Satan himself.  Let the love of Christ defend, protect and empower you to fight for your family, both biological and the family of God.  Let our actions bring glory to our Lord!

Questions:

1.  As you think about your primary interaction with your family, is it aggressive or peaceful?

2.  When others attack your family do you defend them from the assaults?

Prayer: Father, in this world we are hated and attacked by enemies on all sides.  Satan hates us and the lost world does not understand our values.  As a result many of us are confused and easily swayed to live as the lost world lives.  Help me, O Lord, do defend my family and to live peaceably with them.  Amen.