Wishing Someone Ill (Obadiah)

Welcome to this week’s Companion Thought on the Minor Prophet, Obadiah. No believer has an excuse for not reading his book. It’s only one chapter long! However, its story is rooted in a complex family feud. I won’t give the details here—I go to it in detail in the Bible Companion Book 9—but here’s the summary: two brothers become two nations that end up hating each other. When one suffers a devastating defeat, the other is not only gleeful but also helps destroy him. 

What makes this story interesting is that the losing brother deserves what happens to him. But still, through the prophet Obadiah, God rebukes the one who took advantage. “You should not look down on your brother in the day of his misfortune,” He says (v. 12). 

In our day, family dynamics are not the only thing fueling our divisions. Political differences have stirred hate to the point that we are tempted to wish ill on those who don’t agree with us. 

I sometimes see media posts where people celebrate the death of their opponents even when the death is tragic and avoidable. It is then Obadiah stands in front of us and says, “Stop! This attitude isn’t right. No matter what you think of someone else, be careful about what you say and do regarding them because you are not innocent either.” 

Romans 3:23 says, “For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.” Jesus tells us not to judge lest we be judged because whatever standard we use to judge others will be the standard used to judge us (Matt. 7:1–3). 

While it appropriate to pray that good will triumph over evil, we must keep in mind that it is only by God’s grace that any of us survive. When we see our brothers and sisters stumble, when they lose their protection, their families or their lives, we should not be celebrating, but mourning. We should grieve when another human being suffers. We should grieve that sin continues to ravage this world. We should grieve whenever the opportunity to show God’s love to one made in His image is forever lost. 

Jesus says, “Love your enemies, do good to them …. Then your reward will be great, and you will be children of the Most High, because he—[God]—is kind to the ungrateful and wicked” (Luke 6:35).  So don’t be glad when bad things happen to people you don’t like. Instead, pray for them and if possible, reach out. The grace God enables you to give them, is the same grace He extends to you and me.