An Emotional Check

[Edom] stifled his compassion, his anger tore at him continually, and he harbored his rage incessantly. – Amos 1.11, CSB

Who was Edom, and what were they guilty of?

The sin of Edom was his persistent and unfeeling hostility against his brother. “Brother” could refer to some unknown treaty partner (cf. v. 9). But the frequent references in the Old Testament to Edom’s brotherhood with Israel suggest that this refers to the physical kinship between the two nations that began with Esau and Jacob (Gen. 25:29–30; Num. 20:14; Deut. 2:4; 23:7). At some point in Israel’s history Edom relentlessly pursued his defeated brother with a sword (cf. Obad. 10). Without any natural feelings of compassion, Edom let his anger rage continually, like a beast tearing its captured prey. He brooded over his fury, nourishing it so it flamed unchecked.

Sunukjian, Donald R. “Amos.” The Bible Knowledge Commentary: An Exposition of the Scriptures, edited by J. F. Walvoord and R. B. Zuck, vol. 1, Victor Books, 1985, p. 1430.

A thought came to mind as I began to reflect on this verse. As I sat quietly before the Lord, I was reminded that I am not defined or destined by my emotions. Instead, I am supposed to take every thought captive to make it obedient to Jesus (2 Corinthians 10.5). But with that, I also believe I am supposed to capture every emotion that comes and look at it through the filter of Scripture. Emotions are real, but are not always right. Emotions can enhance an experience as we enjoy happiness during seasons of celebration, as well as experience joy even in the toughest of times. And emotions can help us grieve well as we walk through the healing process that comes with loss. Nevertheless, there are also emotions that we experience that are connected to our sinful natures that need to be driven through Scripture and then dealt with appropriately. Just because I feel something does not mean that I am to follow and obey it.

Here’s something to apply to see if it stands out a little bit more for application. How about you put your name at the very beginning of the verse and see if the Lord may be saying something to you as well. I’ll use my name, but please use yours for your part.

Brian stifled his compassion, his anger tore at him continually, and he harbored his rage incessantly.

So what should I do in response to this verse? I should make sure to unleash my compassion. Instead of allowing anger and unforgiveness to run loose throughout my soul, impacting every part of my life, I need to release and overcome those feelings. When I only look at the verse as what God did to punish Edom, I miss the application. However, when I place myself in this verse, I’m confronted with my need to repent for allowing emotions to reign in me. They need to be controlled so that they do not control me. 

Are your emotions getting the best of you? Have you decided that you must surrender to your feelings regardless of what they may be? I understand that some who read this may be dealing with difficult situations right now, where seeking professional Christian counseling is necessary to help you through this challenging time. Please find the help you need. But every person will have to deal with their emotions. We all have to decide what we will do and how we will respond to the feelings we feel. Pretending like we don’t feel those things isn’t the answer. Instead, acknowledging those feelings and then living out faithful obedience nonetheless is the life of a Christ-follower. Again, we are not defined or driven by what we feel. Instead, we are called to live out our faith in Christ and obey him more than surrender to what we feel.