Bible Reading: Malachi 1:1-4

God used Malachi to ask questions and answer them. The first question “Wherein hast thou loved us? Was not Esau Jacob’s brother? saith the Lord: yet I loved Jacob, And I hated Esau, and laid his mountains and his heritage waste for the dragons of the wilderness.” (1:1-3). How has God loved Israel? The answer comes from how the descendants of Jacob (Israel) had been treated in comparison to how the descendants of Esau were. Both peoples were unfaithful to the One, True God. Yet Esau’s descendants and their land had been impoverished and any attempt of prosperity would be met by God’s indignation (1:4). Jacob’s descendants were not faithful to God, yet God continued to bless them and be their God!

I think we forget how God has blessed us. I know we are not Israel, but we (as Christians) do have things in common with Israel. Living oblivious to God’s blessings in our lives may well be one of the things we hold in common with them. May God help us to see His blessings in our lives.