Malachi 3
Today's Passage: Malachi 3
The book of Malachi shows a back and forth between God and the Israelite people after they have come back to Jerusalem after the Babylonian exile. In chapter 3, we are seeing the final set of disputes in which God confronts Israel for their corruption, showing that the exile didn’t change them at all.
Right before chapter 3 starts, the Israelites accuse God of being unfair, saying, “Where is the God of justice?” They claim that they don’t see God at work at all. God responds by telling them of a messenger He will send to prepare the people for God’s own return.
In the next dispute, God calls them to turn back to Him, and they ask how to do that. He tells them to tithe (which means 1/10), as the temple was in disrepair and the lack of tithing truly showed their heart posture toward God. They had been commanded to donate that amount to support the temple (Leviticus 27:30). They didn’t trust Him to provide, and they wanted to keep their money for themselves.
In the final dispute of the book, the Israelites tell God that it’s pointless to serve Him, as they see the wicked prosper and good people suffer. In response, God orders a scroll of remembrance be written about the faithful remnant in Israel who truly love God, come together to talk about Him and His Word, and are faithful to His commands. God is essentially telling the complaining Israelites to look at Scripture, see the examples of faithfulness, and know that because of God’s character, He is worthy of our worship.
We argue with God too. We protest His commands, we question His choices, and we ultimately don’t trust Him with our entire lives. Through this book, God is showing us that we can look back on the rest of Scripture and see that we too can trust who He is and that what He commands is what is best.
What have you had a dispute with God over recently? What is God saying through His Word in response?
Written By: Kaitlin White
The book of Malachi shows a back and forth between God and the Israelite people after they have come back to Jerusalem after the Babylonian exile. In chapter 3, we are seeing the final set of disputes in which God confronts Israel for their corruption, showing that the exile didn’t change them at all.
Right before chapter 3 starts, the Israelites accuse God of being unfair, saying, “Where is the God of justice?” They claim that they don’t see God at work at all. God responds by telling them of a messenger He will send to prepare the people for God’s own return.
In the next dispute, God calls them to turn back to Him, and they ask how to do that. He tells them to tithe (which means 1/10), as the temple was in disrepair and the lack of tithing truly showed their heart posture toward God. They had been commanded to donate that amount to support the temple (Leviticus 27:30). They didn’t trust Him to provide, and they wanted to keep their money for themselves.
In the final dispute of the book, the Israelites tell God that it’s pointless to serve Him, as they see the wicked prosper and good people suffer. In response, God orders a scroll of remembrance be written about the faithful remnant in Israel who truly love God, come together to talk about Him and His Word, and are faithful to His commands. God is essentially telling the complaining Israelites to look at Scripture, see the examples of faithfulness, and know that because of God’s character, He is worthy of our worship.
We argue with God too. We protest His commands, we question His choices, and we ultimately don’t trust Him with our entire lives. Through this book, God is showing us that we can look back on the rest of Scripture and see that we too can trust who He is and that what He commands is what is best.
What have you had a dispute with God over recently? What is God saying through His Word in response?
Written By: Kaitlin White
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