DCLM Daily Manna 2025: DCLM Daily Manna 23 November 2025: Loss Through Pride
Text: Obadiah 1:1–9 (KJV)
The vision of Obadiah. Thus says the Lord God concerning Edom: We have heard tidings from the Lord, and an ambassador is sent forth among the nations [saying], Arise, and let us rise up against [Edom] for battle!
2 Behold, I will make you small among the nations [Edom]; you shall be despised exceedingly.
3 The pride of your heart has deceived you, you dweller in the refuges of the rock [Petra, Edom’s capital], whose habitation is high, who says in his heart, Who can bring me down to the ground?
4 Though you mount on high as the eagle and though you set your nest among the stars, I will bring you down from there, says the Lord.
5 If thieves came to you, if robbers by night—how you are brought to nothing!—would they not steal only enough for themselves? If grape gatherers came to you, would they not leave some grapes for gleaning? [But this ravaging was done by God, not men.]
6 How are the things of Esau [Edom] searched out! How are his hidden treasures sought out!
7 All the men of your confederacy (your allies) have brought you on your way, even to the border; the men who were at peace with you have deceived you and prevailed against you; they who eat your bread have laid a snare under you. There is no understanding [in Edom, or] of it.
8 Will not I in that day, says the Lord, destroy the wise men out of Edom and [men of] understanding out of Mount Esau [Idumea, a mountainous region]?
9 And your mighty men, O Teman, shall be dismayed, to the end that everyone from Mount Esau will be cut off by slaughter.
KEY VERSE: Obadiah 1:3
“The pride of thine heart hath deceived thee, thou that dwellest in the clefts of the rock, whose habitation is high; that saith in his heart, Who shall bring me down to the ground?”
Pride is a dangerous and deceptive sin, often hiding its true consequences until they are fully unleashed. This truth is illustrated in Leslie B. Flynn’s fable of two ducks and a frog.
When their pond dried up, the ducks devised a clever plan to transport their frog friend: they held a stick between their beaks while the frog clung to it with his mouth. As they flew overhead, a farmer exclaimed, “What a clever idea! I wonder who thought of it?”
Unable to resist taking credit, the frog proudly opened his mouth to say, “I did!” — and fell to his death. Pride literally brought him down.
Throughout Scripture and history, pride has been the downfall of both humans and angels. Lucifer, once a glorious archangel, became the devil because of pride. Many have since followed this tragic path, lifted up by their own achievements, wealth, intelligence, or privileges, forgetting that everything they possess is evidence of God’s mercy.
The human heart, without Christ, is naturally depraved. Its desires, motives, imaginations, and ambitions are corrupted by sin. True freedom from pride comes only when a person is born again and receives God’s nature.
In today’s text, Edom was condemned for her arrogance. Secure in her rocky dwellings, strengthened by her military prowess, wealthy in trade, and emboldened by her alliances, she felt untouchable.
She oppressed others—including Israel, her own relatives—and believed no one could bring her down. Yet God decreed that she would fall, be betrayed by allies, lose her defences, and face humiliation.
God always resists the proud but lifts the humble. Jesus Christ, our perfect Example, embraced humility to the point of death on the cross. Because of this, God exalted Him above all. If we follow His path of meekness, we too will find favour and elevation from God.
The only cure for pride is genuine repentance and transformation through Jesus Christ.
THOUGHT FOR THE DAY:
When grace is admitted, pride goes away; when pride is admitted, grace goes away.
THE BIBLE IN ONE YEAR:
Daily Manna 23 November 2025
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