Alliances and partnerships such as NATO, AUKUS, GCC, and the African Union seek to promote security through collective defence, cooperation and regional unity. These international partnerships aim to deter aggression and promote stability. Yet, shifting geopolitics and internal disagreements—driven by differing national priorities—reveal just how provisional and fragile such alliances can be.

As vulnerable as today’s military alliances may be, Edom’s confidence rested on a fragile three-legged stool of human defences: allies, wisdom, and military might. Yet each would prove unreliable and collapse under God’s judgment.

The first leg—human allies—proves spectacularly unreliable (Obadiah 7). Unlike ordinary thieves who take “only as much as they wanted”, Edom’s supposed allies become ruthless plunderers (v. 5).

Obadiah draws a contrast with grape harvesters, who, according to Jewish law, were to leave behind some of the crop for the poor (Deuteronomy 24:21). Edom’s allies, however, would show no restraint—they would betray and strip Edom bare, seizing even its hidden treasures (Obadiah 6). They renege on their treaty, deceive the unsuspecting Edomites, and drive them from their land (v. 7). These were no true friends, even though they once shared bread together (see Psalm 41:9). Historically, this “ally” may have been Babylon, who joined forces with Edom in the destruction of Jerusalem in 586 BC, but later turned on Edom in 553 BC.

With their allies gone, the second leg of Edom’s pride—their wisdom—is also shattered. Known for a long tradition of wisdom (Obadiah 8; Jeremiah 49:7), Edom’s intellectual reputation was once highly regarded. In the book of Job, Eliphaz—one of Job’s friends—came from Teman, a city of Edom (Obadiah 9). But on the day of God’s judgment, even Edom’s wise men will perish, leaving the nation without counsel or guidance.

The final leg of Edom’s defence—military might—stands no chance against divine judgment. God declares that their warriors will be crushed, and every man from the mountains of Esau will be cut down in slaughter (v. 9). Edom’s complete downfall reveals the futility of human defences against God’s sovereign judgment.