“Behold, I will make you small among the nations;
You are greatly despised,” (1:2).

Nothing is known about Obadiah, other than that his name means “servant of the Lord” and that he received a vision from the Lord God about Edom.

The vision of Obadiah.
Thus says the Lord God concerning Edom, (1:1).

And his prophecy was directed solely towards Edom, those who were descendants of Esau, Jacob’s older twin brother who was so governed by the desires of his flesh that he chose instant gratification over his birthright. The birthright bestowed the rights and privileges of the father’s authority and responsibilities to the eldest son, as well as twice the inheritance the others would receive. And Esau had such little regard for his birthright that he sold it in order to feed his flesh.

When Jacob had cooked stew, Esau came in from the field and he was famished; ³⁰ and Esau said to Jacob, “Please let me have a swallow of that red stuff there, for I am famished.” Therefore his name was called Edom. ³¹ But Jacob said, “First sell me your birthright.” ³² Esau said, “Behold, I am about to die; so of what use then is the birthright to me?” ³³ And Jacob said, “First swear to me”; so he swore to him, and sold his birthright to Jacob. ³⁴ Then Jacob gave Esau bread and lentil stew; and he ate and drank, and rose and went on his way. Thus Esau despised his birthright, (Genesis 25:29-34).

Feeding the flesh will certainly enlarge the ego, and the descendants of Esau had followed his ways. Their enlarged ego had led to an arrogance and loftiness that had induced their inflated self-esteem and self-seeking prominence, bringing them to the precarious position of self-glorification; convinced they were meant to soar with the eagle and dwell like gods among the stars.

But the arrogant heart is so deeply deceptive in its drive to gratify the flesh. And pride would lead to their faulty expectations of deserving respect and being worthy of admiration, and despising the Only One Who is truly deserving and worthy of honor and glory.

And their Pride had borne its fruit: violence against their brother, standing by aloof while their relatives came under siege, rejoicing over their destruction, gloating over their calamity, looting their wealth, cutting down the fugitives, and imprisoning the survivors. The fruit of their Pride ripened until they made themselves the adversary against God’s people, and in so doing, became the enemy of God.

And God would make them realize that their self-inflated power and prominence would collapse, for there will be no escape from His pronouncement; He Will Cut Pride Down to Size.

Consider Him Who Will Cut Pride Down to Size

Cut Down to Size:

*To show someone that they are not as smart or important as they think
*To disprove a statement, theory or belief
*To take away the self-esteem or conceit from
*To belittle or express disapproval of
*To lower in rank

• He Will Cut Pride Down to Size as He shows the arrogant that they are not as smart or important as they think.
  • “Behold, I will make you small among the nations;
    You are greatly despised,” (1:2).

• He Will Cut Pride Down to Size as He disproves statements, theories and beliefs against His Power
  • “The arrogance of your heart has deceived you,
    You who live in the clefts of the rock,
    In the loftiness of your dwelling place,
    Who say in your heart,
    ‘Who will bring me down to earth?’
    ⁴ “Though you build high like the eagle,
    Though you set your nest among the stars,
    From there I will bring you down,” declares the Lord, (1:3-4).

• He Will Cut Pride Down to Size as He takes away the self-esteem and conceit from those without understanding.
  • “O how Esau will be ransacked,
    And his hidden treasures searched out!
    ⁷ “All the men allied with you
    Will send you forth to the border,
    And the men at peace with you
    Will deceive you and overpower you.
    They who eat your bread
    Will set an ambush for you.
    (There is no understanding in him,)” (1:6-7).

• He Will Cut Pride Down to Size as He expresses His disapproval that belittles with eternal shame.
  • “Will I not on that day,” declares the Lord,
    “Destroy wise men from Edom
    And understanding from the mountain of Esau?
    ⁹ “Then your mighty men will be dismayed, O Teman,
    So that everyone may be cut off from the mountain of Esau by slaughter.
    ¹⁰ “Because of violence to your brother Jacob,
    You will be covered with shame,
    And you will be cut off forever,” (1:8-10).

• He Will Cut Pride Down to Size as He lowers in rank those who have raised themselves against His people and His purpose.
  • “But on Mount Zion there will be those who escape,
    And it will be holy.
    And the house of Jacob will possess their possessions.
    ¹⁸ “Then the house of Jacob will be a fire
    And the house of Joseph a flame;
    But the house of Esau will be as stubble.
    And they will set them on fire and consume them,
    So that there will be no survivor of the house of Esau,”
    For the Lord has spoken, (1:17-18).

How do we respond to Him Who Will Cut Pride Down to Size?

I am not sure how many verses in the Bible address this deadly sin of Pride. While searching for an answer, I did find a website titled “153 Bible Verses about Pride.” So while I still don’t know the answer, I know the Word has much to say on God’s view on the subject

Everyone who is proud in heart is an abomination to the Lord;
Assuredly, he will not be unpunished, (Proverbs 16:5).

God finds Pride so thoroughly abominable because it usurps the glory and praise that He alone deserves. And as we have seen today, Pride leads to removing God from His rightful place and demeaning His authority and majesty, while aspiring to exalt self instead. But the day is surely coming for all of humanity when He Will Cut Pride Down to Size; for He alone will be exalted in that day.

The proud look of man will be abased
And the loftiness of man will be humbled,
And the Lord alone will be exalted in that day.
¹² For the Lord of hosts will have a day of reckoning
Against everyone who is proud and lofty
And against everyone who is lifted up,
That he may be abased, (Isaiah 2:11-12).

So how should we respond to Him Who Will Cut Pride Down to Size? Let us Cut ourselves Down to Size first! For it is as we humble ourselves in faith before Him that we will escape destruction.

Before destruction the heart of man is haughty,
But humility goes before honor, (Proverbs 18:12).

And not only will we escape His judgment, but He will raise us up to a position of honor.

“For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted,” (Luke 14:11).

Let’s let this reality sink in right now. When we humble ourselves in faith, He has promised we will be exalted. And Paul wrote to the Ephesian about the unimaginable exaltation He has for those who humble themselves and place their faith in Christ for salvation. He Cuts Pride Down to Size as He raises up the humble with Christ and seats them in the heavenly places in Him.

and raised us up with Him, and seated us with Him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, (Ephesians 2:6).

Is there any other place of honor that can possibly compare with being seated in the heavenly places in Christ? So, when Pride comes knocking, let us be quick to humble ourselves before Him, that He would take pleasure in us and beautify us with His salvation. Lord, please Cut Pride Down to Size in us!

For the LORD takes pleasure in His people;
He will beautify the humble with salvation, (Psalm 149:4).

Let’s Grow Together!