Your presumptuous heart has deceived you, you who live in clefts of the rock in your home on the heights, who say to yourself, “Who can bring me down to the ground?” Though you seem to soar like an eagle and make your nest among the stars, even from there I will bring you down. This is the Lord’s declaration. Obadiah 1:3-4 HCSB
Our travel group made its way down the winding road through the desert area between Jericho and Jerusalem. The bus groaned as it made its way up the mountain. Out the window we could see the deep canyons and caverns. The guide pointed out a monastery that had been cut out of the side of the rocks down in the canyon. There was only one small road leading to the buildings that had seemingly been carved out of the side of the mountain. I have never visited Petra, but I have been told that it is similarly built into the side of the mountain.
In these verses God is speaking through His prophet Obadiah to pronounce judgment on the people of Edom because of their evil ways and self-sufficient attitudes. Some believe that the description of where their homes were built (in the clefts of the rock) refers to the same place as Petra but no one really knows. Obviously it was similar. A city built into the clefts of the rock would be a secure place because enemies could not easily attack and conquer the city. The people of Edom had a self-sufficient attitude that caused them to presume that they were safe and protected from any evil, but no one is secure outside of God.
Challenge: It is only through God that one can really be secure. Do you tend to be self-sufficient? Trust God to take care of you. He will always provide what you need when you need it. Thank Him for being all that you need and for serving as your protector.