Falling From a High Place

 Proverbs 16:18 says, “pride goes before destruction,” a thought applicable to the Edomites in more than one way. The Edomites were neighbors to the East of Israel and Judah across the Dead Sea; they are the descendants of Esau, brother of Jacob. The Edomites and Israelites share a tense family history lived out through the centuries, and the residents of Edom saw themselves as superior to the Israelites, above them, literally living high up on the desert cliffs overlooking the valley below and proudly thinking themselves greater than their sisters and brothers. Jesus embodies humility—the very obverse of pride—by his actions and with his words, “the Son of Man did not come seeing to be served, but to serve.” Obadiah calls out the pride of the Edomites as a reminder for all who would live with such pride.