A MESSAGE TO EDOM: NO CHALLENGER

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In Christ, Mark

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The scriptures. May God bless the reading of His holy word.

“Who is the chosen one I will appoint for this? Who is like Me and who can challenge Me? And what shepherd can stand against Me?”

“Therefore, hear what the Lord has planned against Edom, what He has purposed against those who live in Teman: The young of the flock will be dragged away; their pasture will be appalled at their fate. At the sound of their fall the earth will tremble; their cry will resound to the Red Sea.”

“Look! An eagle will soar and swoop down, spreading its wings over Bozrah. In that day the hearts of Edom’s warriors will be like the heart of a woman in labor.”

Jeremiah 49:19b-22

This ends today’s reading from God's holy word. Thanks be to God.

Contemporary Christian singer/songwriter Chris Tomlin wrote these words for the bridge and chorus of what has become one of the most popular praise and worship songs ever:

Name above all names
You are worthy of all praise
And my heart will sing
How great is our God
How great is our God
Sing with me
How great is our God
And all will see
How great, how great is our God

If you didn’t know already, the title of the song is simply, “How Great is Our God” and it proclaims the majesty, authority, and power found in the Master and Maker of everything, the Lord God Almighty.

As we have been looking at the messages God has sent to select nations, we have been reminded of God’s unmatched sovereignty and might. In yesterday’s devotion, the second of three focused on God’s word to the nation of Edom, we found the Lord letting the world know that He and He alone is God and anyone who would try to be mighty separate from Him would be made small. Indeed, as we examined every major empire or nation throughout history has risen and then fallen before the Lord God Almighty, the King of all kings, the Lord of all lords, and the Ruler over all nations.

In today’s devotion, God reminds Edom as to who He is and who they are before Him as we study from His closing words to the country in Jeremiah 49. Look again at His words here:

“Who is the chosen one I will appoint for this? Who is like Me and who can challenge Me? And what shepherd can stand against Me?”

“Therefore, hear what the Lord has planned against Edom, what He has purposed against those who live in Teman: The young of the flock will be dragged away; their pasture will be appalled at their fate. At the sound of their fall the earth will tremble; their cry will resound to the Red Sea.”

“Look! An eagle will soar and swoop down, spreading its wings over Bozrah. In that day the hearts of Edom’s warriors will be like the heart of a woman in labor.”  Jeremiah 49:19b-22

Note here that no one could come against the nation of Edom to exact God’s judgment unless He appointed them first. God and God alone would choose His avenger and most commentators believe that the “chosen one” God speaks of is none other than Nebuchadnezzar, the king of Babylon who God used for His other judgment statements.

From there, we find God sending out a dare for anyone to step forward who could be considered like Him, someone who could be considered to be His challenger.

Well, of course there was no one in Edom who fit this bill and so they would be able to offer no resistance to the judgment God was sending upon them. A nation once proud and considered powerful by other nations would fall and fall hard at the hands of the Babylonians sent by God, the eagle who would “soar and swoop down” on Edom and bring fright to its mightiest warriors. The collapse of Edom would not go unnoticed but rather put the rest of the earth on alert that God is God and any country that put Him to the test would be taken down.

Today, we should give notice to the story of Edom and all the other nations who fell subject to God’s judgment. For no one should ever question the supremacy of God, a supremacy that we find reinforced by the following verses from the scriptures:

"Yours, O Lord, is the greatness and the power and the glory and the victory and the majesty, indeed everything that is in the heavens and the earth; Yours is the dominion, O Lord, and You exalt Yourself as head over all. 1 Chronicles 29:11

“There is none like You, O Lord; You are great, and great is Your name in might.” Jeremiah 10:6

“For the Lord Most High is to be feared, a great King over all the earth.” Psalm 47:2

"For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are My ways higher than your ways and My thoughts than your thoughts.” Isaiah 55:9

"And in the greatness of Your excellence You overthrow those who rise up against You; You send forth Your burning anger, and it consumes them as chaff.” Exodus 15:7

“Ah Lord God! Behold, You have made the heavens and the earth by Your great power and by Your outstretched arm! Nothing is too difficult for You.” Jeremiah 32:17

Yes, the greatness of God is without question. He Himself professed it in the scriptures and others joined Him in proclaiming it.

For He is the Lord God Almighty and He is indeed to be exalted and lifted up in praise. He is without rival and has no challenger in the world. It’s been true since the dawn of creation, it’s true today, and it will be true for all time.

Revere Him. Worship Him. Surrender to His authority now and forever.

Amen.

In Christ,

Mark
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