Petra has to be about one of the coolest ancient ruins on earth. Of course there are many but it certainly is impressive. A city cut in stone. It was the ancient capitol of the Edomites.
The Edomites were the descendants of Esau of Jacob and Esau fame. So Esau and Israel (of Jacob) were brothers, but were brothers that hated each other. Although Israel was told they were not allowed to hate them (Deut 23:7).
When the Israelites came out of Egypt, they sought to pass through the land of the Edomites. Their own brothers said ‘no’ and backed that up with force. It was a bitter moment.
God was about to bring judgment against the Edomites. Why? Two main reasons.
- Their pride and arrogance. Like so many nations they thought they were invincible.
* They were known for their wise men in Teman (Jer 49),
* They felt certain of their political maneuvering because of their alliances (v. 7)
* They felt secure in their fortresses and defenses they had made. Yet the LORD would bring their kingdom crashing down. - Their indifference and opportunism with their brother, Israel. When Israel, their brother nation, was being assaulted, * They sat by and watched, doing nothing. (V. 11)
* They rejoiced over Israel’s destruction (v 12)
* They seized their wealth (v 13)
* The survivors of the onslaught they handed over to the enemy and helped the enemy
This was evil. Indifference to your brother is evil. Pride is evil. Rejoicing over destruction and profiting off of another’s demise is evil.
The LORD said of them that they would be judged. That Israel would fall but would rise again, but the Edomite kingdom would not. They would be despised.
And it happened. In the late AD 60’s Rome attacked Jerusalem and the Edomites fought against them as well. Israel rose again from the ashes in 1948 but the Edomite kingdom is no more.
The truth is I’m trying not to think of a nation that declared “make no alliances, and make no wars” that profited off of WW2. It’s a nation I love and has some of the most dear people anywhere. But if feels like if I’m honest a similar threat. Watch others destruction, do nothing and profit. Again, I love this nation so much but I have to disagree with declarations of passivity and lukewarmness to other’s suffering.
And yet there’s the own nation I’m in. Are not renowned for our arrogance and pride? And when there’s nothing to profit, do we too not hold back?
There’s a lot of evil in this world. In each and every one of our own nations. And there is coming a time when God will judge the nations. And I think that ball has already started rolling.