“Because you maintained an ancient hatred” (v. 5).
Whoa. That phrase struck me. How many ancient hatreds are there in the world? Of course I think of the Arab-Israel conflict. That has lasted literally since the time of Abraham even to today. But is there a national bitterness your nation has? Against another nation? Or even a tribe or group of people? Bitterness is caught and taught through the generations.
We have these because we think we feel justified in them.
But what about in our own hearts? Do we have hidden germs of resentment that have turned to emotionless hatred? An ancient hatred that does not care for the well-being of someone else?
What I’ve learned that in some seasons of life we don’t. Some seasons we have incidents that hurt deeply but are easier to be forgiven. And then there are those seasons where the abuse is daily and the fight against bitterness and hate is daily because of the years of that abuse. That’s a hard one to deal with. It feels impossible at times. And if we’re not careful, it can turn into an “ancient hatred.”
And we can feel justified in this.
Edom felt justified in their ancient hatred. Edom are the descendants of Esau. Remember how Esau and Jacob fought and Esau’s birthright was sold to Jacob? Both sons were evil, but Jacob got all the blessings. There was bitterness and while Esau found the place of forgiveness, his descendants did not. Even though the peoples as nations were cousins, the Edomites HATES Israel.
When the Israelites had left Egypt and were on their way back to the Promised Land, they passed through the land of Edom. They were not greeted warmly but with hostility. And then there were the Amalekites who were descendants of Edom (Gen 36:12). They picked the yound, the sick and elderly off when Israel passed through the land. God was furious and wiped them out because of it.
So here again when Israel is going into Babylonian captivity, Edom was there to facilitate it’s happening.
“Because you maintained an ancient hatred and handed over the Israelites to the power of the sword in the time of their disaster, the time of final punishment, therefore, as I live,” this is the declaration of the Lord God – “I will destine you for bloodshed, and it will pursue you. Since you did not hate bloodshed, it will pursue you” (v. 5-6).
They were eager to help the Babylonians to destroy their cousins Israel. They hated them. Instead of hating blood-shed, they hated the people of Israel. Where was their compassion? Where was their mercy? Instead the celebrated the downfall and destruction of Israel, God’s people.
Therefore God is going to bring judgment upon them.
“I will treat you according to the anger and jealousy you showed in your hatred of them” (v. 11).
God was going to make them a desolation in the same way as Israel.
Be careful of ancient hatred.