在2023年8月，美國史上最致命的野火之一吞噬了夏威夷度假聖地拉海納鎮，造成99人喪生，兩千多棟建築物被毀。但在當地居民尚未擺脫災難的陰霾時，盜賊洗劫房屋，貪婪的房產開發商也試圖侵吞土地，這都使災民遭受更多創傷。

這種趁火打劫、謀取私利的貪婪，正是當年上帝向以東人發出嚴厲警告的原因。上帝藉著先知俄巴底亞警告以東人，告訴這世世代代與以色列百姓為敵的民族說（以西結書35章5節），上帝的公義即將臨到。因為以東人依仗地理優勢（俄巴底亞書1章3節）和累積的財富（6節），與列國和智者結盟（7、8節），擴展軍力（9節），用這一切來欺壓剝削弱者。俄巴底亞譴責以東人在以色列人被擄時，非但缺乏憐憫，而且還幸災樂禍，甚至趁機掠奪以色列人的財物，以得勝者的姿態進入以色列人被攻佔的城邑（12-13節）。

雖然拉海納鎮的居民目睹各種卑劣的行徑，但他們也感受到善意與關懷。島上的教會成為臨時收容中心，為災民提供庇護、熱食和救援物資，令他們倍感溫暖。

當有人受苦時，我們也面臨相似的選擇。我們可以試圖謀取私利，或是以上帝所喜悅的方式給予回應，就像拉海納鎮的教會一樣，以恩慈和慷慨幫助別人。

One of the deadliest wildfires in US history decimated the town of Lahaina, Hawaii, in August 2023, killing ninety-nine people and destroying more than two thousand buildings. Still reeling from the devastation, residents experienced additional trauma when some looters pillaged buildings and greedy realtors attempted to gobble up land.

The corrupt desire to take advantage of tragic circumstances is the backdrop of a strong message from God to the nation of Edom. The prophet Obadiah warned the Edomites, Israel’s enemies for generations (Ezekiel 35:5), of God’s coming justice because the Edomites used their geographic advantage (Obadiah 1:3) and acquired wealth (v. 6), alliances with other nations (v. 7), wisdom (v. 8), and military strength (v. 9) to exploit the weak. Obadiah also rebuked the way Edom gloated as Israel was sent into captivity. Instead of compassion, Edom looted Israelite homes and marched through defeated cities in victory (vv. 12-13).

Although Lahaina residents saw despicable actions, they also experienced kindness when churches on the island became hospitality centers offering shelter, hot meals, and emergency supplies.

When someone is suffering, we face a similar choice. We can try to benefit from their loss. Or we can respond in the way God desires, like the churches in Lahaina, with kindness and generosity.