RTW 2024

…they began to return to Judah from the places to which they had fled. They stopped at Mizpah to meet with Gedaliah and then went into the Judean countryside to gather a great harvest of grapes and other crops.

Jeremiah 40:12

Soon after this, Johanan son of Kareah and the other military leaders came to Gedaliah at Mizpah. They said to him, “Did you know that Baalis, king of Ammon, has sent Ishmael son of Nethaniah to assassinate you?” But Gedaliah refused to believe them. 
Jeremiah 40:13-14

It might have been helpful if Gedaliah believed them.

• *NOTE: Sorry for the confusion when I mentioned Antipater/Herod. To clarify: Idumeans were possibly forced to convert to Judaism by a Hasmonean leader around 120 B.C. Idumeans assimilated into Jewish society. Antipater became governor and his son Herod ruled as king, ushering in the Herodian Dynasty.
• Edom was located south of the Dead Sea and contained numerous mountains over 5,000 ft.
• Many Edomite dwellings were cut into the faces of these high, craggy mountains and gave rise to Obadiah's description of the Edomites as people “who live in the clefts of the rocks.” 
• Edom found prosperity in its control of a major north-south Caravan route called the Kings Highway. 
• God chose the second-born to receive the blessing (Jacob), which was opposite of the cultural expectation.
• Because Jacob and Esau were twin brothers, the Edomites were sometimes referred to as  “brothers” by Israel.
• The Edomites did not allow Moses and the Israelites to go through their territory. 
• There were many battles between the kingdom of Judah and the Edomites.
• The Edomites were accused of rejoicing over Judah's destruction.
• After the exile, the Nabateans established themselves in Edom, and Edomites during this period were called Idumeans. 
• The Idumeans disappeared from history after the Roman destruction of Jerusalem in A.D. 70. 
• We can reap an abundant harvest no matter what the conditions are around us.

When your suffering is increased or multiplied, remember you can still sow and reap an abundant harvest.