It Is Possible To Succeed Without God?

Obadiah 1:4
Though you soar like the eagle
and make your nest among the stars,
from there I will bring you down,”
declares the LORD.

Prophet Obadiah writes a message from God to Edom. Edomites are descendants of Esau the twin brother to Jacob. Israelites are descendants of Jacob. Largely the message of the Bible is targeting Israelites and about Israelites. However, God shows that He is the God of the whole world by also targeting non-Israelites as Obadiah does.

Obadiah condemns Edomites for the bad attitude towards Israelites. Obadiah tells Edomites that God will punish them because of how they mistreated Israelites. Obadiah assures Edomites that nothing will save them from God’s wrath.

In our text today, Obadiah tells Edomites that even if they rise up God will bring them down as a punishment. Even if they soar and rule the skies as eagles do, God promises to punish them by bringing them down. Even if they make their nest among the stars, God promises to punish them by bringing them down. In other words, it was possible for Edomites to rise up and succeed without God. However, it was impossible to stay up or stay successful without God.

Obadiah tells Edomites that no rising up would be sustainable. You can rise like eagles and live among stars but God will bring you down. You can rise up economically. You can rise up in your military might. You can rise up socially. You can rise up without God but to stay up you need God. You can succeed without God but to remain successful you need God.

Edomites were reluctant to repent and they believed that their success would cushion them from God’s punishment. Edomites had successfully tried several things and felt they can make it without God. Obadiah gives them a dose of reality by telling them that it is possible to succeed without God, but impossible to stay successful without God.

Psalms 73:3
For I envied the arrogant
when I saw the prosperity of the wicked.
Psalms 73:19
How suddenly are they destroyed,
completely swept away by terrors!

The Psalmist writes about the prosperity of the wicked. He says it’s short-lived prosperity with a sudden terrible end. The wicked prosper but cannot enjoy the prosperity for long. You can prosper without God but you can’t remain prosperous without God. You can prosper without God but without God, it will be sudden short-lived prosperity.

Are you focused on success? Are you pursuing success and prosperity at the expense of your relationship with God? Is the price of your success the pain you cause others? You can succeed without God but it will be short-lived. You can succeed without God but you won’t enjoy it for long.

Why should I work hard for short-lived success? Why should I spent sleepless nights and reach the peak of my efforts and be there briefly then drop to painful oblivion? I will work hard towards success, but I will also focus on my relationship with God. May I never be too busy for God. Help me God, in Jesus’ name, Amen!

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