“But upon mount Zion shall be deliverance, and there shall be holiness; and the house of Jacob shall possess their possessions.” — Obadiah 17.
By Michael Adekoya – Dear Reader, the book of Obadiah is the shortest book in the Old Testament, yet it contains a powerful message of judgment, restoration, and hope. In the midst of a prophecy concerning the judgment of Edom, God gives His people a remarkable promise: “the house of Jacob shall possess their possessions.” This statement speaks of restoration. What God had appointed for His people would eventually come into their hands. Their inheritance would not remain lost forever.
There are blessings, opportunities, responsibilities, spiritual gifts, and promises that God places before His people. Knowing that they exist is not enough; we must arise in faith and take hold of them.
God Has Prepared Possessions for His People: The first lesson from Obadiah 17 is that God’s people have an inheritance. Israel had experienced suffering, defeat, and displacement, but God had not abandoned His covenant with them. Their circumstances did not cancel God’s promises.
Likewise, difficult seasons do not mean that God has forgotten us. There may be moments when we feel that opportunities have passed, dreams have been delayed, or blessings have been taken away. However, God remains faithful. What He has ordained for His people cannot ultimately be destroyed by opposition.
The Bible repeatedly reminds us that God has an inheritance for His children. In Christ, we have received spiritual blessings, forgiveness, salvation, access to God, peace, hope, and the promise of eternal life. We are not empty-handed people. We belong to God, and we have an inheritance in Him.
Knowing Your Possessions Is Not the Same as Possessing Them: There is an important difference between having a promise and possessing the promise. Israel had been given the land by God’s covenant, but possessing it required movement, courage, obedience, and perseverance. They could not simply stand outside the land and admire what God had promised. They had to enter it. Many believers know what Scripture says but never fully walk in its reality. We may know that God gives wisdom, yet refuse to seek Him when making decisions. We may know that God calls us to serve, yet remain spectators. We may know that God has given us gifts, yet never develop or use them. Possession requires participation. Faith is not passive. Genuine faith responds to God’s Word. When God opens a door, we must be willing to walk through it. When He gives an assignment, we must obey. When He gives us an opportunity to serve, we must step forward.
We Must Overcome the Fear That Prevents Possession: One of the greatest enemies of possession is fear. Fear tells us, “You cannot do it.” Fear reminds us of past failures. Fear magnifies obstacles and minimizes God’s power. Fear causes people to remain where they are even when God is calling them forward. The Israelites experienced this when they approached the Promised Land. They saw giants and fortified cities and concluded that they were unable to possess what God had promised. Their problem was not the absence of a promise; it was the presence of unbelief. Sometimes our greatest obstacle is not what is outside us but what is inside us.
To possess our possessions, we must replace fear with faith. Faith does not deny that obstacles exist. Instead, faith declares that God is greater than the obstacles. We may not know exactly how everything will work out, but we can trust the One who has called us.
Possession Requires Holiness: Obadiah 17 says, “there shall be holiness; and the house of Jacob shall possess their possessions.” The connection between holiness and possession is significant. God was not merely restoring Israel’s land; He was restoring a people who belonged to Him. God’s blessings should never become substitutes for God Himself. The purpose of restoration is ultimately that God’s people may live for His glory. We must therefore be careful about seeking possessions while neglecting character. God is interested not only in what we receive but also in what we become.
Holiness means being set apart for God. It means allowing His Word to shape our attitudes, decisions, relationships, priorities, and conduct. We cannot expect to walk effectively in God’s purpose while deliberately walking in disobedience. The greatest possession is not material success. It is a life that is rightly aligned with God.
Do Not Allow the Past to Define Your Future: Obadiah was written against the background of suffering and conflict. Yet God declared that restoration was coming. This teaches us that our past does not have the final word. Perhaps you have experienced failure, disappointment, rejection, loss, or missed opportunities. Perhaps you feel that certain things can never be recovered. Obadiah 17 reminds us that God is able to restore.
Restoration does not always mean receiving everything exactly as it was before. Sometimes God gives something different and even greater in purpose. He can take broken experiences and use them to prepare us for a new season. Do not allow yesterday’s defeat to prevent tomorrow’s obedience.
Arise and Possess What God Has Given You: The message of Obadiah 17 is ultimately a call to action. “The house of Jacob shall possess their possessions.” The language is active. God’s people were expected to move into what God had made available to them. There may be a ministry you need to begin, a gift you need to develop, a relationship you need to restore, an opportunity you need to embrace, or a spiritual discipline you need to establish. Do not spend your entire life talking about what you intend to do. Arise. Pray. Believe. Obey. Move forward. Possession often comes one step at a time.
In Conclusion: “Possess Your Possessions” is not a message about selfish ambition or merely acquiring material things. It is a call to embrace God’s purposes, promises, and assignments for our lives. Obadiah 17 gives us hope: “the house of Jacob shall possess their possessions.” God is a God of restoration. He does not abandon His people. What He has purposed cannot be permanently defeated by opposition, delay, or difficulty. Therefore, do not remain at a distance from what God is calling you to enter. Do not let fear, past failures, discouragement, or unbelief keep you from moving forward. Seek holiness, trust God’s promises, and respond to His call with faith. Remain blessed!
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