Malachi 1 - Loving Jacob, Hating Esau

 

Malachi 1 – Loving Jacob, Hating Esau

 

God said that he loved Jacob because of the fact that He knew what was in Jacob’s heart. He hated Esau because he did not have a heart for God. He had no desire for Him at all. The difference here between loving and hating is simply that the life of the nation that came from Esau, which is Edom, and the life of the nation which came from Jacob which is Israel, demonstrate that God was right when He said that He loved one and hated the other.

 

If God loves the good, He has to hate the evil. The histories of the nation of Israel and the nation of Edom are altogether different. God says that because of Esau’s life, because of the evil which was inherent in this man and which worked itself into the nation of Edom, He was justified in making this statement.

 

In the days of Malachi the Israelites were wallowing in doubt and disillusionment. The priests were corrupt, and religious observances were a sham. As a result, the people were guilty of hypocrisy, idolatry, infidelity, divorce, materialism, and gross indifference to the things of God. Then comes the prophet Malachi.

 

He asked his countrymen a series of convincing questions designed to bring about repentance. But his pointed questions had no effect. So God eventually stopped speaking, and after Malachi, the nation received no further revelation from God until John the Baptist arrived on the scene some 400 years later.

 

Malachi reminds us that spiritual heart disease is slow but deadly. People who stop seeking God become discouraged and apathetic. Turning inward, they become self-absorbed and oblivious to God’s voice. Though they may appear healthy on the outside because of their contnuiing religious activities, on the inside their hearts are becoming increasingly cold and hard. In time, the ugly symptoms of soul neglect will become obvious. Don’t be counted among those who succumb to spiritual heart disease. Like the Israelites, we often relegate the heavenly king to the margins of our lives; giving Him less than our best. Our Savior deserves the best of our time, talent and treasure.

 

 Please read the chapter listed so that you can understand God’s Word better. If you have missed any lessons, you can go to: God Plans For You at https://sherrysouthard.blogspot.com. J.Vernon McGee Thru the Bible. Nelson’s Quick Reference. Dr. David Jeremiah Study Bible.