Obadiah 1
Jonah chapter 1 begins with the scene in which God gives Jonah an order to go to Nineveh and deliver a message of repentance. However, Jonah decides to run away to Tarshish, the exact opposite of God’s command. In the process, Jonah boards a ship to flee, and a great storm arises at sea. The sailors feel their lives are in danger and pray to their respective gods. Eventually, Jonah confesses that he is the cause of the storm, and the sailors decide to throw him into the sea. Jonah, thrown into the sea, is swallowed by a great fish, and he spends three days and three nights inside the fish’s belly.
1verseThe vision of Obadiah. This is what the Lord GOD says about Edom. We have heard news from the LORD, and an ambassador is sent among the nations, saying, “Arise, and let’s rise up against her in battle.
2verseBehold, I have made you small among the nations. You are greatly despised.
3verseThe pride of your heart has deceived you, you who dwell in the clefts of the rock, whose habitation is high, who says in his heart, ‘Who will bring me down to the ground?’
4verseThough you mount on high as the eagle, and though your nest is set among the stars, I will bring you down from there,” says the LORD.
5verse“If thieves came to you, if robbers by night—oh, what disaster awaits you—wouldn’t they only steal until they had enough? If grape pickers came to you, wouldn’t they leave some gleaning grapes?
6verseHow Esau will be ransacked! How his hidden treasures are sought out!
7verseAll the men of your alliance have brought you on your way, even to the border. The men who were at peace with you have deceived you, and prevailed against you. Friends who eat your bread lay a snare under you. There is no understanding in him.”
8verse“Won’t I in that day”, says the LORD, “destroy the wise men out of Edom, and understanding out of the mountain of Esau?
9verseYour mighty men, Teman, will be dismayed, to the end that everyone may be cut off from the mountain of Esau by slaughter.
10verseFor the violence done to your brother Jacob, shame will cover you, and you will be cut off forever.
11verseIn the day that you stood on the other side, in the day that strangers carried away his substance and foreigners entered into his gates and cast lots for Jerusalem, even you were like one of them.
12verseBut don’t look down on your brother in the day of his disaster, and don’t rejoice over the children of Judah in the day of their destruction. Don’t speak proudly in the day of distress.
13verseDon’t enter into the gate of my people in the day of their calamity. Don’t look down on their affliction in the day of their calamity, neither seize their wealth on the day of their calamity.
14verseDon’t stand in the crossroads to cut off those of his who escape. Don’t deliver up those of his who remain in the day of distress.
15verseFor the day of the LORD is near all the nations! As you have done, it will be done to you. Your deeds will return upon your own head.
16verseFor as you have drunk on my holy mountain, so all the nations will drink continually. Yes, they will drink, swallow down, and will be as though they had not been.
17verseBut in Mount Zion, there will be those who escape, and it will be holy. The house of Jacob will possess their possessions.
18verseThe house of Jacob will be a fire, the house of Joseph a flame, and the house of Esau for stubble. They will burn among them and devour them. There will not be any remaining to the house of Esau.” Indeed, the LORD has spoken.
19verseThose of the South will possess the mountain of Esau, and those of the lowland, the Philistines. They will possess the field of Ephraim, and the field of Samaria. Benjamin will possess Gilead.
20verseThe captives of this army of the children of Israel, who are among the Canaanites, will possess even to Zarephath; and the captives of Jerusalem, who are in Sepharad, will possess the cities of the Negev.
21verseSaviors will go up on Mount Zion to judge the mountains of Esau, and the kingdom will be the LORD’s.
Structure and Flow
- God’s command and Jonah’s escape (1:1-3): God commands Jonah to go to Nineveh. However, Jonah boards a ship to flee to Tarshish due to fear and rejection.
- The storm and the sailors’ fear (1:4-6): God causes a great storm at sea. The sailors pray to their respective gods and throw their cargo into the sea to lighten the ship. Jonah is fast asleep in the hold.
- Identifying the cause and Jonah’s confession (1:7-10): The sailors cast lots to find the cause of the storm and hear it from Jonah. Jonah reveals that he is trying to escape from the LORD God.
- Jonah’s sacrifice and the calming of the sea (1:11-16): Jonah suggests that they throw him into the sea. As the sailors reluctantly throw Jonah overboard, the sea immediately becomes calm. Shocked by this, the sailors offer sacrifices and make vows to God.
- The great fish and Jonah (1:17): God prepares a great fish to swallow Jonah, and Jonah spends three days and three nights inside the fish’s belly.
The Full Meaning of the Text
Jonah chapter 1 is a chapter that clearly shows human weakness, God’s sovereignty, and His mercy. Jonah’s escape cannot stop God’s plan, and through the storm, God’s strong will is revealed. At the same time, through the sailors in the storm and God’s care for Jonah (the preparation of the fish), it is also revealed that God is the one who cares for all people and all things. This chapter surveys God’s relationship with the disobedient human, as He patiently endures and waits.
Points for Meditation
- When God’s will is clearly presented, do I choose to obey—or do I try to run away?
- In times of suffering and crisis, do I reflect on my life and consider how I should accept my responsibilities before God?
- Do I trust the fact that God’s mercy and patience go beyond the boundaries or limits I think of?
Applying It to Me
- Think about how you will respond to God’s word given to you today.
- In the face of life’s storms, pray that you may come closer to God and be able to trust Him.
- Remember that not only you, but also everyone around you and every situation are within the reach of God’s mercy.
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This is the last chapter of Obadiah.