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Obadiah 1:7 "All your allies have deceived you, they have driven you to the border; your confederates have prevailed against you; your trusted friends have set a trap under you—there is no understanding of it."

 

God's punishments often don't feel or look like they are coming from Him, which is why so many often miss them. Through Obadiah, God is promising to bring Edom low for its treatment of Judah (Obadiah 1:10). He says here that all of Edom's friends and allies will deceive and betray her, there will be no understanding of it.

 

But if Edom had listened to Obadiah, there would be understanding of it! They would know that this inexplicable betrayal by former allies was allowed, maybe even orchestrated, by God as part of their punishment. Knowing this would not change the outcome (sometimes prophets are sent to try and change people's hearts, but sometimes it is just to let them and posterity know that God had a hand in events). It would, however, show Edom God’s justice for His people.

 

It was not a confusing stroke of bad luck and misfortune that Edom's allies turned on her, it was part of a judgment against her. Obadiah lets Edom and us know that so we can see how God always vindicates His people, and trust that His vindication will come for us, eventually, as well.