Malachi, apocalyptic series, Disputation #1
The book of Malachi, “The oracle of the word of the LORD to Israel by Malachi” (Malachi 1:1), begins as a tale of two brothers. Jacob I have loved, but Esau I have hated is the undergirding reality of much of the Old Testament after Abraham and Sarah’s family is birthed.
What in the world is that all about?
Abraham had one son, Isaac. When Isaac’s sons, Esau and Jacob, were in Rebekah’s womb, God had already determined that Esau would be “hated” and Jacob would be “loved.” That sounds harsh to our ears. However, “in this context, loved refers to choice rather than affection, and hated refers to rejection rather than animosity” (which was explicitly prohibited against Edomites, Esau’s descendants, in Deuteronomy 23:7 (“You shall not abhor an Edomite, for he is your brother…”).1. After all, both were sons of Isaac, son of Abraham.
God chose one lineage for Messiah Jesus. Abraham. Isaac. Jacob. To produce His people Israel, God chose the man who, as a young man, had spent his days in the tent helping his mother. This progenitor, Jacob, married two sisters, had several concubines, and fathered twelve sons and one daughter. These were his tribe.
Abraham’s lineage: Jacob’s lineage.
“Jacob in Hebrew Yaʿaqov, and in Arabic Yaʿqūb, was also called Israel in Hebrew Yisraʾel, and in Arabic Isrāʾīl, Hebrew patriarch, the traditional ancestor of the people of Israel.”2.
Click here to see the Apostle Paul’s explanation of this.
As the one chosen, Jacob “experienced God’s sovereign favor by which he was granted a privileged role in redemptive history as a bearer of the messianic promise . . . Meanwhile, ‘Esau experienced God’s rejection in terms of this same role. Malachi is concerned primarily with the nations of Israel and Edom, of which Jacob and Esau were representatives and progenitors.'”3.
“In this letter, Malachi defends the reality of God’s elective love for Israel, a love which calls for robust covenant obedience and sincere worship as its response. Instead, the people were dishonoring God by their worthless offerings and the hypocritical formalism of their worship.”4.
Meanwhile, the LORD says regarding Esau, “I have laid waste his hill country and left his heritage to jackals of the desert.” If Edom says, “We are shattered but we will rebuild the ruins,” the LORD of hosts says, “They may build, but I will tear down, and they will be called ‘the wicked country,’ and ‘the people with whom the LORD is angry forever.'” (Malachi 1:3b-4 ESV).
In other words, God says He will not ever allow Esau’s tribe Edom to be strong enough and equipped enough to at any time harm or destroy Jacob’s tribe, Israel.
The LORD says to Israel: “Your own eyes shall see this, and you shall say, ‘Great is the LORD beyond the border of Israel!” (Malachi 1:5 ESV). And so, here, yet again, the LORD affirms His choice of Jacob and His rejection of Esau. “A chastened Israel will acknowledge the Lord’s universal sovereignty.”5.
To elevate the one, the Lord had to put down the other, lest Esau thrive. If Esau and his tribe Edom did thrive, he would wipe out Messiah’s lineage, for he was a fighter.
These two brothers were never close. Their arguments have impacted millions throughout the history of this region and still do impact their descendants on both sides today.
“Malachi presents the sovereign Lord as the God of Israel and the God of the whole world.”6.
This book opens like a love letter to Israel, the descendants of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. We who have accepted Jesus Messiah as Savior, are now considered to be Abraham’s offspring, a part of this promise.
The book of Malachi opens like a love letter to Israel, the descendants of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. "I have loved you," says the LORD. But you say, "How have you loved us?" (Malachi 1:2) #Bible Click To Tweet“I have loved you,“ says the LORD. But you say, “How have you loved us?” (Malachi 1:2a ESV).
The LORD declares: “Is not Esau Jacob’s brother?” (Malachi 1:2b).
To clear a path for Jacob to thrive, the LORD had to bring hardship on Esau.
However, for Jacob and his descendants this was a blessing. Jacob’s family, whom the LORD held tightly together, suffered together, reinforcing their tribalism. We may have little knowledge of the span of time covered by the Old Testament addressing all the feuds between Esau and Jacob’s offspring.
When Israel was marched naked and bound as slaves, trudging through the desert toward Nebuchadnezzar’s homeland, taken into captivity in Babylon, the destruction of Jerusalem and the temple occurred as a result.
“That the Edomites did participate, and with a fury and a vindictive spirit, in the 587 B.C. destruction of Jerusalem is clearly evident from the biblical references…. Historical evidence makes it difficult to explain the intense hatred of the Jews for Edom unless the Edomites did actively participate in the destruction of the Temple in 587 B.C.‘ . . .Not enough attention has been given either to the nature and precise contents of the biblical texts, or to the general historical background.”7.
“Two centuries earlier Jeremiah had announced the Lord’s impending judgment against Judah: ‘I will make Jerusalem a heap of ruins, a lair of jackals, and I will make the cities of Judah a desolation, without inhabitant.‘ By applying this same threat to Edom, Malachi makes clear that like Judah, Edom will not escape God’s judgment.‘”8.
With this in mind, Jacob’s offspring scream, “How have you loved us?”
“In painful contrast to the tearful tenderness of God’s love stands their insolent challenge. The root of their sin was insensibility to God’s love, and to their own wickedness. Having had prosperity taken from them, they imply they have no tokens of God’s love; they look at what God had taken, not at what God had left. God’s love is often least acknowledged where it is most manifested.“9.
How are we just like them? What if we lost everything and everyone?
Would we see the Lord’s love in what He had left us?
How often do we grow blind to all the kindnesses of the Lord and the mercy He has shown? How often do we whine about our latest losses, all while ignoring the many blessings and tender words poured out upon us as we hear the Lord’s assurance, read God’s Word, or hear it preached?
When we accept Christ, we are the beloved, part of Jacob’s tribe. What is our take-away from the beginning of this letter written sometime after 516 B.C.?
Though millennium have flown by, do we see ourselves in these words?
- ESV Study Bible, Crossway Bibles, Wheaton, Illinois, Introduction to Malachi, passage note,pg. 1772.
- https://www.brittanica.com/biography/Jacob-Hebrew-patriarch
- ESV Study Bible, Crossway Bibles, Wheaton, Illinois, Introduction to Malachi, passage note, pg 1772.
- Jamieson, R., Fausset, A. R., & Brown, D. (1997). Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible (Vol. 1, pp. 736–737). Logos Research Systems, Inc.
- ESV Study Bible, Crossway Bibles, Wheaton, Illinois, Introduction to Malachi, passage note, pg. 1772.
- The Expositor’s Bible Commentary, Abridged Edition, Kenneth L. Barker and John R. Kohlenberger III, Zondervan 1994.
- Bartlett Edom and the Fall of Jerusalem, 587 B.C..
- ESV Study Bible, Crossway Bibles, Wheaton, Illinois, Introduction to Malachi, passage note, pg 1772.
- Jamieson, R., Fausset, A. R., & Brown, D. (1997). Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible (Vol. 1, pp. 736–737). Logos Research Systems, Inc.
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This message reminds me of how often people, including myself, forget all the blessings and love God lavishes on His children. The worries of the day sometimes get in the way of truly going to God and trusting Him to handle everything. Peace is found when we trust Him. Thank you for the encouragement.
That is so beautifully written, Melissa. You are absolutely right about that! We forget, just like they did. Human nature is still the same. It may be ancient, but we need these words to remind us just like they did!
God does provide for us abundantly, so much more than we ever deserve. I am so thankful for being part of Jacob’s tribe. Thanks for providing this wonderful message of hope Melinda.
Thank you for your kind evaluation, Yvonne! I’m glad this was encouraging to you and full of hope. I, too, am so grateful to be a member of Jacob’s tribe.
What a powerful opening to this study of Malachi, Melinda! This idea of God showing favor to some while rejecting others is difficult for us to understand in a society that is trending toward including and accepting everyone as they are. How can God show mercy to some and turn His back on others. But, as you referred to Romans 9, Paul wrote:
“What then shall we say? Is God unjust? Not at all! For he says to Moses, “I will have mercy on whom I have mercy, and I will have compassion on whom I have compassion.” It does not, therefore, depend on human desire or effort, but on God’s mercy.
I think even the many glass-half-full Christians would turn glass-half-empty if we really understood the depravity and pending devastation of those with whom we walk and talk on a daily basis. But, then again, we see the glass half full when we consider the richness of mercy God granted to so many of us, who have been saved from certain death. How sobering is the reality of the justice and mercy of God. How much we owe Him who have been justified by God’s gift of grace and faith.
Stephen, this passage caused me to be overwhelmed by God’s mercy in choosing me. Why me?! The judgment was entirely the Lord’s, as Paul explains so thoroughly. I considered the times that I called out for evidence that God loves me. And yet, God’s Word and Jesus’ sacrifice and calling make it very apparent that God is not only with us, but we are His! That is all we need. Thanks be to God for our inclusion in Jacob’s tribe.
I’ll always remember the first time I read Malachi 1:2-3. I couldn’t understand how God could “hate” Esau. But it was explained to me as a level of love and selection, as you noted. Esau was “loved less” because God chos Jacob as the primary vehicle through whom the covenant would pass down to his 12 sons.
As always, good exposition, Melinda!
Thank you, Ava! If I can pass your inspection, I know I’ve been as accurate and as thorough as was necessary. 😊 Malachi is quite a chunk of theology. It’s apocalyptic from our perspective, and yet it’s Advent-like on the Jews’ end, which requires attention to every single letter and every single word. Christ’s first appearing, so essential to all of creation, has occurred. Now we await His return.
This is powerful! Your closing really hit hard: “How often do we grow blind to all the kindnesses of the Lord and the mercy He has shown? How often do we whine about our latest losses, all while ignoring the many blessings and tender words poured out upon us…?” We (conveniently?) forget how blessed we are when suffering happens, hardships occur, or God says “no” to something we want. But God LOVES us… completely, fully, perfectly. He has the best, and the big picture, in mind. Such a great piece. Thank you!!!
Your comment is so compelling, Jessica. I considered how many times I had blown it, and yet, God, in His kindness, still chose me. I don’t know why. I often think I’m not a very good bargain. Thank you for sharing your, as always, uplifting words. You always see an important point that everyone misses, including me. God bless you and the gifts He has give to you, Jessica!
Thank you, Melinda, for the reminder to count our blessings and not our desires. It’s in thankfulness that we should bring him our petitions. Insightful analysis here. Thanks and God bless!
Trust and thankfulness are significant responses we make as we reply and follow the Holy Spirit at work in our lives.
Melinda, I used to be a bit perplexed with this passage in Malachi. It didn’t seem to line up with the deep and unconditional love of God. But as we understand a further explanation of love and hate and God’s mercy at work, we can come to terms with God’s inspired Word and plans. To be chosen by Him, adopted into God’s family, and become joint-heirs with Christ is worthy of a thousand Hallelujahs!
You’re so right, Karen. Once we understood those confusing uses of words and the carrying out of what it really meant, we can understand why Esau had to be kept in check and Jacob granted the space and ability to grow.
We studied Malachi in Sunday School just before I went to Kansas. This will be a great review for me. I did not realize that I had gotten behind in reading this. You pointed out some great lessons for us in this passage.
Thanks, Mom! It’s nice to see you on here.
Thanks, Mom!