Devotion based on Week 4 of “The Prophets” – Obadiah (WATCH HERE)
“If thieves came to you, if robbers in the night—Oh, what a disaster awaits you—would they not steal only as much as they wanted? If grape pickers came to you, would they not leave a few grapes? But how Esau will be ransacked, his hidden treasures pillaged! All your allies will force you to the border; your friends will deceive and overpower you; those who eat your bread will set a trap for you, but you will not detect it.” (Obadiah 5–7, NIV)
Pride is dangerous. Obadiah delivers a striking picture of Edom’s downfall comparing it to thieves who come in and steal. However, unlike ordinary thieves who take only what they want, Edom’s destruction would be total. Allies would betray them, friends would deceive them, and traps would be set that they would never see coming. The reason? Pride had blinded them. They trusted in their strongholds, their alliances, and their own cunning. But the very things they leaned on became the source of their downfall.
Pride does that. It blinds us to reality, makes us overconfident, and dulls our awareness of danger. Just as Edom did not see betrayal coming, pride can leave us vulnerable to spiritual traps. How so?
- The Trap of Self-Sufficiency
Edom trusted in their wisdom, wealth, and mountain fortresses (v. 3–4). We fall into the same trap when we believe we don’t need God’s help. Self-sufficiency seems like strength, but it’s actually a trap that isolates us from God’s grace. God becomes a last resort versus a point of first reliance. Our culture boasts “self-sufficiency” as a virtue but often leaves the Lord out of the picture. We must remember Jesus’ words in John 15:5 “Apart from me you can do nothing.” - The Trap of False Security
Edom thought their allies would protect them, but those very allies betrayed them. We too can put false security in friends, career success, or financial stability. These can all crumble overnight. True security is only in Christ. As King David understood in Psalm 20:7 “Some trust in chariots and some in horses, but we trust in the name of the Lord our God.” - The Trap of Deception
Pride convinces us that we see things clearly, when in fact we may be blind to danger. Just like Edom’s leaders, who didn’t notice betrayal brewing, we too can miss Satan’s traps of temptation, compromise, or worldly thinking. Accepting a small tweak on God’s truth can leave us distant from a biblical foundation. Wanting the friendship or employment can lead us to “justify” behavior or priorities that lead us away from a solid relationship with Christ. Pride is deceiving. Satan is the father of lies and loves to distort the truth. 1 Peter 5:8 “Be alert and of sober mind. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour.”
So how do we avoid pride’s blindness?
- Stay Humble: Recognize daily that we need God’s wisdom, not just our own. Humility keeps our eyes open. (James 4:6)
- Stay Rooted in God’s Word: Scripture acts as a plumb line to reveal truth when pride tempts us to ignore warning signs. (Psalm 119:105)
- Stay Dependent on Christ: Through prayer and trust in Jesus, we find real strength and protection that no earthly alliance can provide. (Philippians 4:13)
- Stay Alert in Community: God gives us fellow believers in our church who speak truth, hold us accountable, and help us notice dangers we might miss. (Hebrews 10:24–25)
The traps are real. Be alert. Be watchful. Be humble so you don’t get caught!
Apply: Pride says: “I’ve got this.” Faith says: “God’s got me.” Take time today to ask: Where am I trusting in my own strength instead of God’s? Are there areas of my life where I’m blind to danger because pride tells me I’m secure? Confess those to the Lord and ask Him to open your eyes.
Prayer: Lord, forgive me for the pride that blinds me to dangers and makes me trust in myself more than in You. Keep me humble and alert. Protect me from the traps of self-sufficiency, false security, and deception. Teach me to walk in Your wisdom, depend on Your grace, and rest in Your strength. In Jesus’ name, Amen.