The pride of your heart has deceived you, you who dwell in the clefts of the rock, whose habitation is high; you who say in your heart, ‘Who will bring me down to the ground?’ Though you ascend as high as the eagle, and though you set your nest among the stars, from there I will bring you down,” says the Lord. (Obadiah 3-4)

I Will Bring You Down

Before the flood in the days of Noah, the world was not divided into nations. Everyone spoke the same language and speech. The flood destroyed all life, and only eight souls were saved. From the sons of Noah, the world was populated again. There was unity among the people, and their pride led them to decide to build a city and a tower whose top was in the heavens. The people came to the plain of Shinar to build a great tower. When the Lord saw the heart of man was lifted in pride, He went among the people and confused their language, scattering them abroad from there over the face of the earth. Nations were formed as people gathered with people of the same language.

The tower of Babel was stopped because God stopped the work of the people. As the Creator of the world, the Lord directs the affairs of men as He sees fit. The attempt to build the tower whose top is in the heavens shows what man can do to dominate the world. God’s interference with man’s pride shows what God can do to rule the world. Because of what happened at the tower of Babel, no nation or people will ever rule over the world. The fear of world domination has always challenged the wisdom of men. Many nations have tried, and all have failed. The Roman Empire was an expansive nation but never dominated the whole world (and never came close). In recent history, the Germans and Japanese tried to spread their empires across the globe and were defeated. The history of the British Empire has its influence on a global scale but never a time of world domination.

God has put in order His will among the nations. Obadiah wrote his message specifically directed to the kingdom of Edom. Like many nations, Edom believed they could never be defeated. The ruins of Petra stand as testimony to the arrogance of their security, believing they could never be conquered. There was a feeling of pride because they lived in a rock fortress and made their home high in the mountains. They did not think anyone could reach them as high as they were. No one could bring them down. They dwelt among the eagles and lived among the stars. Edom is a vanished nation that few know about. God brought them down.

Obadiah reminds the nations of the world that while they can enjoy prominence and power for a time, God will bring them down. Nations are nothing but dust on the scale of God’s justice. It is within the will of God whether a nation will rise or fall. The news is filled with the fear of what China will do in the world. There are concerns about Russia. After the tragic events of September 11, 2001, there was fear Islam would spread worldwide. Obadiah is the answer to the fears of men. No nation will rule over the earth, and no kingdom will replace the kingdom of God, the church.

A nation can become very powerful, and if God decides, and when God decides they are to be brought down, history will record their fall. This reality includes the United States of America. The United States is a young nation of only 247 years. There is no guarantee it will last for another 247 years. That is in the mind of God. The decision to bring down America may be determined by how America brings itself down. It seems to be doing a pretty good job at self-destruction. Is there anything to fear about global domination? Read the story of the tower of Babel or the book of Obadiah, and you will find your answer. If you read the Bible, you will find the only kingdom that will survive is the kingdom of God. It’s been around for more than two thousand years and going strong. Praise God.