Isaiah chapter 31 - Obadiah

The prophecy of Isaiah chapter thirty-one condemns Israel’s reliance on the military strength of Egypt, and points out how foolish Israel is to trust in the horses and chariots of Egypt for their protection and security. God says that He is the one who deserves their trust, and that He will bring his full power against any enemy of Israel who dares to attack.

He chastises Israel for failing to rely solely upon Him, and tells them that there is coming a day when they will discard their idols and return to Him. In that day the enemy will flee from swords brandished by inexperienced soldiers. In the final verse we are given a picture of Israel’s delivery as if by FIRE in Zion, like the fire of a furnace burning outwardly from Jerusalem.

The first ten verses of the book of Obadiah are God’s pronouncement of the ultimate and complete destruction of the house of Edom/Esau. Jacob/Israel and Esau/Edom were brothers. The descendants of both men knew of their family relationship all through the days of the Old Testament. Herod, who ruled in Jerusalem in the days of Jesus was called an Idumean, which is a Greek transliteration for a descendant of Edom. Many today believe that the Palestinians are part of the final remnant of this family line.

When Israel was carried away into bondage, the nation of Edom didn’t just stand idly by and watch it happen. The text of verse eleven through fourteen indicates that the house of Esau was an active participant in sharing the spoils, and had even gone so far as to block the escape of some that were fleeing.

But, God says that the Day of the Lord is coming, and in that day He will destroy all the heathen, and that’s when He will settle the score with Esau. In that day, Jacob will be back in his land, and he will possess the city of Jerusalem. Then in verse eighteen we see a connection to the wording of Isaiah chapter thirty-one.

“And the house of Jacob shall be a fire, and the house of Joseph a flame, and the house of Esau for stubble, and they shall kindle in them, and devour them; and there shall not be any remaining of the house of Esau; for the LORD hath spoken it.” (Obadiah verse 18)

Compare the above picture with the following.

“And he shall pass over to his strong hold for fear, and his princes shall be afraid of the ensign, saith the LORD, whose fire is in Zion, and his furnace in Jerusalem.” (Isaiah 31:9)

This is chapter thirty-one of the book of Isaiah, and the book of Obadiah is the thirty-first book in the Bible. They are connected.