Though Edom says, “We have been devastated, but we will rebuild the ruins,”
the Lord of Armies says this:
“They may build, but I will demolish. They will be called a wicked country
and the people the Lord has cursed forever.
Your own eyes will see this, and you yourselves will say,
‘The Lord is great, even beyond the borders of Israel.’
Malachi 1:4-5
Last time we began the prophecy, or burden, of Malachi as our governor Nehemiah returned to his position in the king’s palace. We saw the comparison of Esau and Jacob, one loved and one hated. Today we continue with this discourse.
First we have what might at first glance seem to be a new name: Edom. But it is referring to the same people as last time, Esau and his descendants. The name Edom literally means a condiment. Interesting, huh? Some further definitions: to be red, flush, dyed, rosy; from adom (red). So probably ketchup.
“‘Edom’ was also used as the name of the place where Esau went to live, the hilly part of southwest Jordan. Esau’s name was changed to Edom when he moved to that land…after Isaac died [and he] left Canaan…
Genesis describes Esau as red in complexion, the stew that Jacob made as a red stew, and the land that Esau moved to as having red sandstone rock. Red implies passion or conflict, symbolic of the brothers and their constant fighting.”
Source of above
It’s interesting this morning’s family reading in Matthew mentioned “the blood of righteous Abel.” Yet another feuding pair of brothers prominent in God’s Word. And we as readers aren’t given all the answers. In fact, at first glance, it seems God is being flippant and acting on a whim with the two brothers’ offerings:
In the course of time Cain brought some of the fruits of the soil as an offering to the Lord.
And Abel also brought an offering—fat portions from some of the firstborn of his flock.
The Lord looked with favor on Abel and his offering, but on Cain and his offering he did not look with favor.
So Cain was very angry, and his face was downcast.
Genesis 4:3-5
Seems rough, right? But the part we get to glimpse about the brothers’ hearts comes next:
Then the Lord said to Cain, “Why are you angry? Why is your face downcast?
If you do what is right, will you not be accepted? But if you do not do what is right, sin is crouching at your door;
it desires to have you, but you must rule over it.”
Genesis 4:6-7
“If you do what is right…” Something was amiss in this brother’s heart. And we may know what he does next: kill his brother. Yup. Seems as if God knows more than we do.
Let’s keep that in mind as we journey through our current brothers’ story and their descendants.
God begins this part of the prophetic song with knowing the hearts of the Edomites:
Though Edom says, “We have been devastated (rashash – beat down, shatter, impoverish), but we will return and build the desolate places (chorbah – wastes, ruin, deserts)…”
More than likely this was a stiff-necked response to God-given consequences. “Okay, yeah, we’ve been beaten down but we’ll come back.”
Why do I think that? Well, God rejoices in rebuilding in other places in His Word (and not just Nehemiah!):
They will rebuild the ancient ruins;
they will restore the former devastations;
they will renew the ruined cities,
the devastations of many generations.
Isaiah 61:4
Seems as though there’s a difference between ignoring discipline and building on our own, and trusting God by joining Him in renewal and creation. So…ever been there? Determined to “pull yourself up by your own bootstraps” when what the Most High wants is repentance and dependance on Him? Me too. Let’s see what God has to say about this rebuilding.
Thus says the Lord of armies:
“They may build, but I will throw down…”
Yikes.
You may remember the name “Lord of armies” is Jehovah-sabaoth. It comes from tsaba – army, war, service. So the head military commander says the opposite.
“I (ani – myself) will throw down (haras – shatter, ruin, overthrow).”
Ooo, that “ruin” kills me. He Himself will ruin what they seek to build on their own strength. Sound familiar?
Then they said, “Come, let us build ourselves a city, with a tower that reaches to the heavens,
so that we may make a name for ourselves; otherwise we will be scattered over the face of the whole earth.”
But the Lord came down to see…[and] said, “…Come, let us go down and confuse their language so they will not understand each other.”
Genesis 11:4-7
So is He just mean? I think it’s helpful to remember what He seeks to ruin in our lives would ruin us if He didn’t. Whatever the Edomites are seeking to rebuild in these verses, it certainly could not be for their good or His glory. And because there’s absolutely no way we as humans are somehow more merciful than an all-knowing, all-loving God, I do not believe meanness is what’s going on here.
The prophetic song continues:
“And they shall be called the Territory of Wickedness, and against whom Yahweh will have indignation forever.”
The called in “they shall be called” is qara – proclaim, famous, renowned. And wickedness is rishah meaning wrong, especially morally. So ruinous practices which go against Yahweh will not only be private affairs. This morally wrong doing will be known by others.
There is nothing concealed that will not be disclosed, or hidden that will not be made known.
What you have said in the dark will be heard in the daylight,
and what you have whispered in the ear in the inner rooms will be proclaimed from the roofs.
Luke 12:2-3
“…and against whom Yahweh will have indignation forever.”
Indignation is zaam (abhor, enrage, denounce) and forever is olam (antiquity, always, forevermore). Indeed, indignation forever. Let’s get a little bigger picture of this by looking at the next part of our prophetic burden:
“And your eyes shall see and you shall say, ‘Yahweh’s greatness extends even beyond the borders of Israel.”
The see here is raah – to see, show self, sight of others, view, behold, enjoy, have experience, gaze, take heed, be near, perceive, present, provide, regard. It may make you smile to know when Hagar named God El Roi, the God Who sees, the roi is from our raah. He is present, near, perceptive, showing regard.
Greatness is gadal (magnify, become great) and extends is our familiar al – to hover over.
The people of God, those to whom this prophecy is directed, will see how He will use the unrepentant Edom for His glory even in other places. His magnificence will hover over those of other nations, too.
There are a couple of things I remind myself of when thinking about people groups in the Word. One is how God chose the Israelites out of all the others, in the middle of a polytheistic culture, to worship Him alone. The second is how this relationship between God and man was to be a light to all the other nations.
So, if a group is consistently, and without repentance, going against God’s chosen people in ways which are morally repulsive to a God of justice, it makes sense that group would earn His indignation. We can also assume, though, that this announcing from the rooftops to others outside Edom and Israel has to do with God’s redemptive purposes.
None of us deserve to stand before a perfect God. And the mercy He offers isn’t cheap. Any God smaller than this would not be worth worshipping. May we repent of individual practices which are morally wrong, and cease to cooperate with communal ones which would earn His indignation. And, in His power, may we build what delights His heart and shows His glory beyond ourselves.