My Brother's Keeper5/16/2024 ![]() Obadiah 1:11 ~ "On the day that you stood aloof, on the day that strangers carried off his wealth and foreigners entered his gates and cast lots for Jerusalem, you were like one of them." In the first family, sin and anger ruled in the heart of the elder brother, Cain. He regarded Abel as an enemy and grew hot with envy and malice toward him. God, in His great mercy, confronted Cain and exposed the elder brother's sinful heart with a clear call to repentance. However, Cain disregarded God's mercy and struck down Abel, killing him. That moment encapsulated the reality of the fallen nature of man. When God confronted Cain, the brother's response was dismissive: "Am I my brother's keeper?" (Genesis 4:9). Advancing a multitude of generations later, and we come to the life of Jacob and Esau. Two brothers, both at odds with each other early in their lives, and yet, brothers. Both Jacob and Esau became the father of a nation--Jacob was the predecessor of Israel and Esau was the forerunner of Edom. And, as the years progressed and the nations descending from those two men grew in strength and influence, an underlying hostility grew. However, God never once forgot that they were brothers. And that brings us to our text for today. In the book of Obadiah, the LORD rebukes the nation of Edom for their callous disregard and shameful behavior toward the nation of Israel. It is important to understand the circumstances concerning the nation of Israel. They had rebelled against the LORD, turned to idolatry and forsook the commands and instructions of God Almighty. They rejected those whom God had sent, and followed their own sinful desires. Because of this, God sent against them the surrounding nations to chastise and punish His people for their rebellion. They were a nation who had fallen into sin and were suffering under God's reprimand. Then Edom, the descendants of Esau, took advantage of Israel's misfortune. Once again, one brother had risen up against another. My friends, the answer to the question posed by Cain, "am I my brother's keeper" is a resounding YES! You and I, as family in Christ, are to be more concerned for the wellbeing of those around us. Consider what Proverbs 24:17-18 says, "Do not rejoice when your enemy falls, and let not your heart be glad when he stumbles, lest the LORD see it and be displeased, and turn away his anger from him." If we are not to gloat over the stumbling of our enemies, how much more should we be concerned for our brothers and sisters in Christ? Let me encourage you to take a moment and read the book of Obadiah. It is just one chapter with twenty-one verses. As you read it, hear God's anger against Edom for how they abused the moment when Israel was punished by the LORD. And yet, let us consider our own ways this day. When the LORD rebukes one of His children, or takes them through times of difficulty for their chastisement and deliverance from sin, we are not to gloat or rejoice over their struggle. Edom should have encouraged Israel's repentance and comforted them in such difficulty. Let us not "stand aloof" and merely watch the spectacle of their suffering. Galatians 6:1 instructs us in this, "Brothers, if anyone is caught in any transgression, you who are spiritual should restore him in a spirit of gentleness. Keep watch on yourself, lest you too be tempted." The Word of God does rebuke, correct and chastise those who are disobedient to the LORD (see 2 Timothy 4:2), but let us use it as God intended--and not as a battering ram to destroy those who have fallen. Let us make sure that we do not add our own judgment against another, or use their misfortune to ravage them with personal abuse. Vitriolic attacks and self-righteous judgments do nothing to benefit the moment. It may be that the LORD must punish the unrepentant so that they will reject their sin. Even Paul spoke of handing some over to Satan to be taught not to blaspheme the LORD (see 1 Timothy 1:20). There is, however, a tremendous difference between the LORD using the enemy to punish those who refuse to repent and our willingness to attack those who are down because of God's chastisement. If we are to learn a lesson from Edom, let it be that we will, instead of abusing the fallen, we shall pray for them, seek their repentance and encourage them to walk faithfully with the LORD. Are you your brother's keeper? The answer, beloved, is yes. In His Grace, Pastor Michael
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