The image of God being a loving God, gracious God, merciful God, forgiving God, compassionate God, etc., is hung above every individual, family, office, community and the Church. The slogan around every religious concourse echoes the ‘goodness of God.’ This ‘goodness of God’ is already engraved in the mindsets of the Christian generation today that we most often take God for granted. The Naga Christians in general and the Ao Christians in particular, today, are facing a drought of ‘fearing God.’ ‘Absence of fear’ most often results in over-confidence, pride and arrogance – these, I believe, is where our community and Church is headed towards.
There was a point in time when there was ‘fear of God’ amongst committed Christians, and therefore they were ‘fair and just’ in their involvements, whether in the government, Church or community; there was a point in time when there was ‘fear of God’ at least in the Church, and therefore Churches were free of corrupt practices like financial mismanagements and nepotism. Today, corruption is at its peak whether be it in the government, Church or the community. How did it evolve to be? One of the obvious reasons, I believe, is because of the absence of ‘fear of God.’
Obadiah, the shortest book in the Old Testament is addressed to Edom – who is Edom? Edom is the descendant of Esau, the twin brother of Jacob (Genesis 36:8). Both Jacob and Esau were blessed to become nations – Jacob became Israel and Esau became Edom. God declares that he ‘hates Esau/Edom’ (Malachi 1:3). Surprised? How can God hate? What did Edom do to invite such hatred? The obvious answer again – there was no ‘fear of God.’
The following is a reflective reading of few verses from the book of Obadiah on God’s judgement upon Edom:
1. “… the pride of your heart has deceived you… though you soar like the eagle and make your nest among the stars, from there I will bring you down…” (Verses 3-4)
Esau went and settled in Mount Sier (Genesis 36:8), a strategic location with steep mountain ranges and narrow passages. Mount Sier, today, is also known as the City of Petra and is located in present day Jordan. The Edomites made caves on the top of these steep mountains and dwelt there. The location of mountain ranges with narrow passages provided strong security for Edom and history itself is proof that in their 1500 years of settlement in Mt. Sier, no enemies could successfully defeat them. Edom became arrogant on account of their strategic position – “though you soar like the eagle…from there I will bring you down.”
There was a point in time when rural communities would look up to the wisdom and knowledge of the urban communities. Similarly urban communities always felt accountable for contributing towards the welfare of rural communities. “Who are they to tell us what to do when they don’t know anything about us or the village”; “Why should we waste our time on these rural folks when they are so full of themselves” – sadly, these are the attitudes in most rural-urban community relationships. Ao community still cannot get over the tag of ‘yimtisanger’ and its influence on common decision making. The more we become complacent of our positions, the less we acknowledge God for our positions. Are we also arriving at a point of arrogance?
2. “… Esau will be ransacked, his hidden treasures pillaged… your friends will deceive and overpower you…” (Verses 5-7)
Edom’s economy flourished based on two factors. First, the narrow passages amidst Edom’s dwelling, referred to as the ‘King’s Highway,’ were crucial for trade between nations. People had to pay certain taxes and seek permission from Edom to ensure safe passage. Second, Edom had rich natural resources of iron and copper, which amounted to the major source of income. The strategic passages for trade along Edom’s Mountain ranges provided advantages not only for economic income, but also towards developing friendship and increasing its allies. It is believed that the Edomites would often say, “even if thieves come to steal, how much can they take?”
Edom became more and more arrogant upon their advantages of a strong economy and powerful allies. The Bible records an incident where even Israel (Edom’s brother) was denied entry to Edom’s passages in their journey to the promised land (Exodus 20:21). For all these, God’s judgement was that Edom would be “ransacked of all their resources, including natural resources, and their friends would deceive them.” History tells us that it was the Nabateans, Edom’s ally, who were responsible for Edom’s downfall – the Nabateans invited all of Edom’s prominent leaders to a banquet, closed them in the banquet hall, and killed them.
This is the trend of our Ao community today – the more economically sound you are, the more powerful connections; the more powerful connections you have, the more your economic security. The reality of our community becomes pathetic when this trend dominates all functioning in the government, community, and even the Church. This trend has reduced our general elections into an event of money-making and acquiring connections for selfish purposes. The same trend has reduced all employments in the government, community and even the Church, as mere channels of survival, and not about contributing towards the welfare of the society at large. The more our dependence on economic power and influential connections, the less our dependence on God and fear of God. Lest we forget what happened to Edom.
3. “… will I not destroy the wise men of Edom… everyone in Esau’s mountains will be cut down in the slaughter…” (Verses 8-9)
Teman was a town in Edom, known for its wise men and farfetched knowledge. These human resources were the pride of Edom. They were responsible for securing Edom’s strong economy and developing a brilliant military strategy. Nations dared not question the wisdom and knowledge of Edom. Upon all these advantages, Edom became more arrogant. Not only did they deny Israel, their brother, entry to their narrow passages, Edom remained silent and watched as Babylon destroyed Jerusalem and took Israel captive through their narrow passages (vs. 11-12). God’s judgement was that Edom’s wise men would be destroyed and that every Edomite would be slaughtered. Most of Edom’s wise men were destroyed in the Nabatean massacre and the last Edomite to be eliminated was Herod who was struck down by God and eaten up by worms (Acts 12:23). Today Edom’s dwelling in Mt. Sier exists, but Edom as a people is erased from existence.
The Aos have been tagged with pioneering education and Christianity in Nagaland. As pioneers of education, our community has produced prominent personalities in different social, political, and religious arenas, and has stood respectably amongst other communities. After all these years, instead of being better than what we were before, where is our prominence today? Where is our prominence in bureaucracy? Where is our prominence in competitive exams? Where is our prominence in politics? Where is our prominence in religion? Perhaps even the littlest of prominence we have today are ripple effects of past glories. The more we bask in our past glories, the more we are falling behind. Our community is, no doubt, blessed in so many ways for pioneering the Christian faith; however, let us not forget that even the wisest of human resources could not stop Edom from its downfall.
The downfall of a community, in days of old, happened by way of defeat in warfare and the fall of prominent leaders. Communities were even entirely wiped out in the warfare. Signs of downfall today may not take the same course. However, privation of prominence definitely is a clear indication that our community is taking a descending pattern in existence.
Though Edom was blessed by God to become a nation, it failed to continue its dominance and existence. Edom failed to ‘fear God’ and therefore invited God’s hatred upon them. ‘Fear of God’ gives an entirely different perspective to how we perceive and do things. If only the Ao Community feared God, how different would our community be today? If only we feared God, we… I leave it to you to fill the blank. High time that our Churches bring back the slogan to ‘fear God’ to save our community from inviting God’s hatred.