UNKIND TREATMENT (AMOS 1:11-12)

1. Out of all the nations described in the Bible two should have gotten along with each other.

2. The nation of Israel and the nation of Edom should have been friends.

3. Isaac’s son Jacob helped bring the Israelites into the world.

4. Jacob’s twin brother (Esau) helped bring the Edomites into existence.

5. Because there was a family relationship between these two boys and nations God said in Deut 23 7-8:

A. Do not abhor an Edomite. God then gave a reason for this command. He said:

For he is thy brother.

B. Israel and Edom should have gotten along and been friendly towards each other.

C. The Bible shows that Edom and Israel didn’t have a very good relationship.

6. According to the scripture that was read, Edom pursued his brother with the sword.

7. I think it is safe to say that Amos did not have in mind a toy sword.

8. The Edomites were not playing.

9. Edom was mean and unkind to the people of Israel.

10. The text in Amos 1 say that Edom cast off pity.

11. Anger was perpetual and wrath was continual.

A. This general description may not mean too much to us.

B. We may not appreciate what is being described unless we have a fuller description of the sin.

C. For a better understanding of how bad things were let’s turn over to the next Bible book

D. Let’s take a look at the book of Obadiah.

E. This book is an announcement of judgment against Edom.

F. This is made clear in the first verse.

G. According to Obadiah 3, the nation of Edom was proud.

H. These people thought they lived in a secure location, and they did live in a safe area.

I. To get to the Edomites an army would have needed to attack the community single file.

J. Though this nation was well fortified God said their protection wouldn’t help them.

K. They had been mean to the people of Israel and they would be punished.

L. Let’s start reading with verse 10.

i). Amos and Obadiah spoke of the same problem.

ii). Those in Edom had been violent towards those in Israel.

iii). What did the Edomites do?

iv). Verse 11 gives us a partial explanation of how Edom treated Israel.

12. The nation of Edom had committed a terrible sin.

A. Foreigners had entered into the city of Jerusalem.

B. These foreigners took away valuable possessions and property.

C. The “strangers” looted the city of Jerusalem.

D. While the city of Jerusalem was being ransacked and raided where were the Edomites?

E. The prophet Obadiah said they were watching.

F. As the city of Israel was invaded and plundered the Edomites sat back and watched.

G. At times people come out to a particular spot to watch a display.

H. It may be fireworks, an air show, or an event at the fair.

I. These people showed up to watch people be robbed.

J. They found entertainment value in the fact that people’s possessions were being taken.

K. As an additional comparison imagine a situation where someone has just lost their house.

L. A tornado has come through a town and the homes in this town have been ripped apart.

M. People are somewhat dazed and some of their possessions are lying out in the open.

N. As vandals come through and steal the victim’s property, others sit back and watch.

i). No one calls the police.

ii). No one steps in and says, “Leave. These items are not yours.”

iii). No one stands up for the victims. People sit back and watch the thieves steal property.

O. This is what these people did, and they people they watched were the Israelites (their relaives).

P. As awful as this sin was the Edomites didn’t stop with this sin.

Q. Notice 12a in Obadiah.

R. The Edomites rejoiced as the people of Jerusalem were robbed.

S. These people saw disaster and they were happy about it.

T. It is bad enough to sit back and do nothing as innocent people are abused and robbed.

U. Being happy that someone is being robbed is especially depporable.

V. In addition to be happy at the attack, 12b says they spoke proudly about what they saw.

W. Using our image of a tornado struck house let’s turn this into a modern day scene.

X. As a house is in shambles and people are stealing the homeowner’s possessions those watching say,

i). “Isn’t this a great show?

ii). “I haven’t seen anything this good in a long time.

iii). “Look, that guy is getting a free lawnmower. That fellow has found a computer system.

iv). “Look there, that guy is driving off in the homeowner’s car.

v). “I wonder how the home owner is going to get to work tomorrow.

vi). “Over there, he’s taking the guy’s heating and cooling system.

vii). “These folks are sure going to be surprised when they get home.

viii). “I bet half of these people didn’t have any insurance.”

Y. These people laughed and joked about tragedy and didn’t care about the people who had been victimized.

Z. The fact that they were related to the victims didn’t matter.

AA. As bad as this is the Edomites then did the unthinkable.

BB. They joined in the plundering.

CC. Just as others had stolen from their relatives so they decided to steal too.

DD. Theft in and of itself is bad.

EE. Stealing from a relative is certainly wicked.

FF. Stealing from people who are victims is beyond disgraceful.

GG. Jesus once told the story of a good Samaritan.

HH. What would we think of someone who came along, saw this man, and robbed him a 2d time?

II. It was bad enough to pass for people to look at this man and not help him.

JJ. What would we think of someone who robbed him of the little he may have had left?

KK. What if the beaten man were a relative and that relative robbed him a second time?

LL. That would be below low. This is almost too evil to imagine.

MM. This is what the Edomites did to their brethren.

13. They watched as people stole from their relatives.

14. They found the looting to be something to joke about, and then they too participated in the process.

15. Could the of Edom people have done anything else to further their sin? Yes.

16. Sometimes we think that people cannot get any worse.

17. The book of Obadiah shows us that people can always sink a little lower.

18. During the looting some of the Israelites in Jerusalem were trying to escape.

19. The Edomites saw that some were trying to flee and they and did what is described in verse 14.

20. The Edomites prevented some of the Hebrews from escaping.

21. People were trying to flee, possibly for their lives, and the Edomites blocked the escape routes.

22. Imagine a house that is one fire. People are trying to exit.

23. Someone comes along bars the windows and blocks the doors.

24. Imagine that relatives try to keep the victims inside the burning house.

25. This is how the people of Edom acted.

26. According to Obadiah some of the Israelites escaped the destruction.

27. However, those of Edom looked for Hebrews who were trying to flee.

28. When Edomites found fleeing Hebrews they took them back to the looters.

29. This sin was so terrible it had to be punished.

A. God therefore said in Amos 1, “I will not turn away the punishment thereof.”

B. Verse 18 of Obadiah is even more ominous. READ.

30. PEOPLE WHO WERE RELATED TO EACH DID NOT TREAT EACH OTHER VERY WELL AND THIS MADE GOD VERY UNHAPPY. THIS SIMPLE FACT MAY BE RELATED TO THE PRESENT DAY.

A. God watches how His people treat each other.

B. God has warned us, several times, about how we treat other.

C. Col 3:13 – forbearing one another

D. We are to show brotherly kindness, 2 Pet. 1:7.

E. Jesus spoke of a new commandment (love, Jn. 13:34).

F. Christians are to be of one heart and soul, Acts 4:32.

G. God’s people are to serve one another, Gal. 5:13.

H. We are instructed to love one another fervently, 1 Pet. 1:22.

I. 1 Peter 3:8 – Be compassionate, tenderhearted, and humbleminded.

31. In Eph. 2:14-16 Paul used some other interesting terms.

A. Both (i.e. Gentiles and Jews) have been “made one.”

B. A wall has been broken down.

C. There is to be peace among those who are in the body of Christ.

D. Reconciliation has come through the cross.

32. Sometimes we witness an unfortunate thing in the church.

A. Visitors and non-members can be treated in the best possible way.

B. Many greet them, follow up may be done with them, and a variety of offers are made.

C. In some cases Christians bend over backwards for visitors.

D. When it comes to the treatment of fellow Christians sometimes brethren are treated like dirt.

E. This is what the Edomites did.

F. The Edomites must have gotten along pretty well with the looters.

G. When they dealt with their brethren it was a different story.

H. This is not the way that God intended for things to be.

I. This past week I read about a young man who sat down at the supper table with his parents.

J. He said, “I am going to get married.”

K. The father said, “How do you know you are ready”?

L. “How can you be sure this is the right time and person”?

M. The son said, “It’s right. She is the right lady.”

N. Dad asked for a further explanation.

O. The son said he had kissed his girlfriend the previous night.

P. During the kiss her dog bit him but he didn’t feel the pain till he got home.

Q. Love is a precious quality.

R. The Old Testament teaches us to love our brethren. Any other course is unacceptable.

S. We must treat the people of God in the best way we can.

T. To do anything less is to violate God’s will.

U. Mistreating the people of God is a sure ticket to judgment and punishment.