Family Feud and God

On September 9, 1839, a little boy was born into the Hatfield clan of West Virginia. His given name was William Anderson Hatfield. But while still quite young he got a nickname from his own mother that perfectly described his sinister disposition and aggressive nature. She called him Devil Anse. The name stuck fast.

Around the same time, his little cousin, also called Anderson Hatfield, who was mild-mannered and kind, earned the sobriquet of Preacher Anse.

So Devil Anse and Preacher Anse both grew into their names. Devil Anse was the leader of the Hatfield clan throughout the bitter decades of the infamous Hatfield-Mccoy feud. And although over a dozen people lost their lives and several more were imprisoned, Devil Anse survived the feud and avoided jail time.

The infamous New Year’s Night massacre of 1888 was plotted at his instigation. That was the night eight Hatfields, at Devil Anse’s behest, surrounded the Mccoy cabin and opened fire, killing two young girls. Seven Hatfields were given life sentences, and one was hanged for the crime. But Devil Anse was never formally connected to the crime, and thus avoided being charged.

Where was the justice in that? Where was God in all that mayhem? Many believed that only a miracle of God could end the bloodshed…and that is exactly what happened. More on that later.

But there is another family feud that was resolved only when God stepped in to stop it: the feud between Jacob and Esau’s descendants, the Israelites, and the Edomites, which is discussed in the book of Obadiah.

The Edomites were a clan that terrorized the Israelites on numerous occasions until God stepped in and put an end to the feud. But before he did, he sent them a warning, by the pen of a Hebrew prophet, Obadiah.

The Jews must have been wondering why they were being so harshly punished while the Edomites were getting off scot-free. The book of Obadiah is as much a warning to Edom as it is a comfort to Israel, that God would ensure his covenant is kept. Which covenant? The one made with Abraham and Isaac, and Jacob (not Esau), that “whoever blesses you will be blessed and whoever curses you will be cursed.”

4 ATTRIBUTES OF GOD AS SEEN IN OBADIAH SO THAT WE WILL RECOGNIZE HIS WORK IN OUR LIVES

1. GOD IS OMNISCIENT

Obadiah1 The vision of Obadiah. Thus says the Lord God concerning Edom: …

The very fact that God gives a vision of the future to Obadiah is very telling about what kind of God we are dealing with. It is a lesson every kid learns even in the most basic of Sunday School lessons: God knows everything. God even knows the future.

He knows the future of Edom because he knows the future of everyone.

The Old Testament is replete with examples of prophecies made in minute detail and then fulfilled later in history exactly the way God said they would be. God does know the future, and the book of Obadiah proves it. He said that Edom would be wiped out and Israel would endure, and that is exactly what history has proven.

But the Bible asserts not only that God knows the future, but that he ordains the future – he makes it happen…

2. GOD IS SOVEREIGN

Obadiah 1-4 The vision of Obadiah. Thus says the Lord God concerning Edom: Behold, I will make you small among the nations; you shall be utterly despised. The pride of your heart has deceived you, you who live in the clefts of the rock, in your lofty dwelling, who say in your heart, “Who will bring me down to the ground?” Though you soar aloft like the eagle, though your nest is set among the stars, from there I will bring you down, declares the Lord.

Notice the word God in verse 1 and Lord in vs 4 are all in capital letters. God is the Adonai Yahweh. God is I am who I am and I am in charge.

Just like Devil Anse and Preacher Anse had names commensurate with their character, God’s character is implied by his name.

In this name, Adonai Yahweh, is implied God’s ultimate sovereignty, but it is also evident in what he says… I will… I will.

He’s not merely predicting what will happen to Edom, he’s informing them what he will cause to happen. God is in control.

The Edomites are a living breathing example of God’s sovereign election, even in salvation.

Paul says in Romans 9:11-15 though they were not yet born and had done nothing either good or bad—in order that God’s purpose of election might continue, not because of works because of him who calls— she was told, “The older will serve the younger.” As it is written, “Jacob I loved, but Esau I hated.” What shall we say then? Is there injustice on God’s part? By no means! For he says to Moses, “I will have mercy on whom I have mercy, and I will have compassion on whom I have compassion.”

Obadiah is the footnote that makes sense of Romans 9:11-15.

God was sovereign over the salvation of Jacob and the rejection of Esau, just as he was sovereign over the preservation of Israel and the extinction of Edom.

Romans is the argument and Obadiah is the evidence. And history is the judge and jury.

And since we have introduced the imagery of a courtroom, it is apropos that we look at the next attribute of God…

3. GOD IS JUST

Devil Anse got away with murder, and the courts could do nothing about that. But in God’s economy, justice is always done…eventually.

Obadiah 10 Because of the violence done to your brother Jacob, shame shall cover you, and you shall be cut off forever.  

God doesn’t forget what sins you’ve committed. He always punishes all sin.

Ecclesiastes 12:14 For God will bring every deed into judgment, with every secret thing, whether good or evil.

Many people think they are good and will get into heaven because they have never committed a heinous sin like murder….but they still have to answer for their sin to God – their envy and pride and lust. God will judge every sin.

God is just and that means we will get what we deserve.

Thankfully there is another attribute of God that always rides in tandem with his justice…

4. GOD IS MERCIFUL

Obadiah 12-17 But do not gloat over the day of your brother in the day of his misfortune; do not rejoice over the people of Judah in the day of their ruin; do not boast in the day of distress. …Do not stand at the crossroads to cut off his fugitives; do not hand over his survivors in the day of distress. …But in Mount Zion there shall be those who escape, and it shall be holy, and the house of Jacob shall possess their own possessions.

Here God promised Israel that there was going to be a way for them. You see, even though Israel was getting what she deserved for her idolatry, the wrath of God would not lead to Israel’s extinction, because Israel would repent. And God ALWAYS responds to repentance. God NEVER condemns a person who is willing to ask for forgiveness.

Rom 10:12-13 For there is no distinction between Jew and Greek; for the same Lord is Lord of all, bestowing his riches on all who call on him. For “everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.”

Here in Obadiah God promises that those who repent will be saved, and that Israel, while she was being crushed by her enemies, would have her head lifted up when she repented.

Why? Because God is merciful.

Why was Edom destroyed? Because they never repented. They were too proud, too stubborn, and even after the prophecy of Obadiah, they carried on cursing Israel. If they had repented would God have relented? Yes.

There is no one too bad to be saved.

And do you know who knows that well? Devil Anse.

CONCLUSION

On 23 September 1911, at the age of 72, William “Devil Anse” Anderson Hatfield repented. An old preacher, Dyke Garrett, convinced him to attend a revival meeting. When Garrett preached the gospel he called to the front anyone who wanted to accept Jesus as Lord and Savior. To everyone’s astonishment, Devil Anse came forward.

He acknowledged his sin and had a radical conversion to Christianity. Hatfield lived the last ten years of his life a totally changed man. He was at peace, knew he was forgiven, and told others of the grace of God. Historians credit that moment as the turning point in the feud. No violence has ensued since that time.

When God says anyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved, he means it. But how is God just and merciful at the same time? Shouldn’t Devil Anse be held accountable for the bloodshed he caused?

Well, his sins were not forgotten or ignored; they were punished severely. But they were carried by another. Jesus died to take his punishment and the punishment we deserve for our sin, so repent, put your faith in Jesus, and experience God’s mercy in your life.

Author: Cripplegate