Obadiah 1
Explanation and Bible story for toddlers and preschoolers (ages 3-6)
The Explanation
Listen. Long, long ago there were two brothers. Two twin brothers. Their names were Jacob and Esau. They had the same mommy. They had the same daddy. But they were very different.
Jacob and Esau got children. And those children got children. And those children got children too. That is how two big families came. The family of Jacob was called Israel. The family of Esau was called Edom.
The family of Edom lived high up. High up on a big mountain. Their houses were in the rocks. They thought: nobody can reach us here! We are safe. We are strong. We are the best.
But God saw them. God saw everything.
One day something sad happened. Bad men came to hurt the family of Israel. They broke things. They took things. The people of Israel cried. They were so scared.
And what did the family of Edom do? Did they help? No. They stood watching. They laughed. They pointed their fingers. "Ha ha," they said. "Look at them cry!"
That made God very sad. And a little bit angry too. Because Israel and Edom were family. Brothers. And brothers must help each other.
Then God spoke to a man. His name was Obadiah. God said, "Obadiah, go and tell Edom something. Tell them: I have seen it all. You laughed. You did not help. That was not good."
What Does This Mean?
God sees everything. Really everything. He sees when you are kind. And He sees when you are not kind. God does not like it when someone laughs at another child who is crying. God wants us to help. Just like a real brother, a real sister.
The Common Thread
God does not forget His children. Never. When Israel was sad, God saw it. When you are sad, God sees it too.
And God sent Someone. Someone very special. His name is Jesus. Jesus never laughs at people who cry. Jesus helps. Jesus loves. Jesus is the best big Brother of all.
For You
Have you ever fallen down? And it hurt? And you cried? That is not fun.
Sometimes a child at daycare falls down. Or a little brother. Or a little sister. What do you do then?
You can go over. You can say, "Are you okay?" You can give a hug. You can call mommy or daddy. That makes God happy. That is what God likes so much.
And do not laugh when someone else cries. Even if it looks a tiny bit funny. Not laughing. But helping.
Talk About It
When you saw someone cry, what did you do?
What can you do tomorrow to help someone?
Praying Together
Dear God,
Thank You that You see me.
You see me when I am happy.
You see me when I am sad.
Help me to be kind.
Help me to help.
Just like Jesus.
Amen.
Questions about Obadiah 1
Short answers for anyone reading about this for the first time.
What is Obadiah 1 about?
What does Obadiah 1 say?
What does Obadiah 1 teach us about God?
What can toddlers learn from Obadiah 1?
Why is Obadiah 1 an important Bible story?
What others discovered
God names the places where His scattered people ended up. Zarephath, far north. Sepharad, far away. Nobody else was keeping that list. But He knew the address of every exile, and promised they would not just come home, they would "possess the cities of the Negev." Wherever you have been carried, He knows the name of that place.
Edom raised a glass on God's holy mountain the day Jerusalem burned, drinking in the ruin of their own brother. God says that cup will come back around: "Yes, they will drink, swallow down, and will be as though they had not been." What you swallow in gloating ends up swallowing you. Is there someone whose downfall you have quietly toasted?
Edom carved its houses into sheer rock, high above the reach of any enemy. Untouchable, they thought, while they watched Jerusalem burn below. Then God speaks: "Though you mount on high as the eagle, and though your nest is set among the stars, I will bring you down from there." The question isn't how high you've climbed. It's who you had to look down on to get there.
Notice how specific God gets. Not a vague "things will improve," but "those of the South will possess the mountain of Esau." Actual hills. Actual fields. People who lost everything are handed the very ground their enemies once stood on. Where have you settled for a blurry hope, when God intends to name the place?
Looking for something for slightly older children?
We also have dedicated versions for elementary age (7-12) and teens (12 and up).
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