Malachi Pt. 2 The Indisputable Love of God

Good morning to all...

Today we will look at the vast love of God that Israel doubted but God affirmed. Sometimes we may doubt that God loves us but we should never feel that way and this post shows us many reasons why we can be confident in the love of God toward us. 

Israel questioned God's love. 

Malachi 1:2-4  I have loved you, saith the LORD. Yet ye say, Wherein hast thou loved us? Was not Esau Jacob's brother? saith the LORD: yet I loved Jacob, 3)  And I hated Esau, and laid his mountains and his heritage waste for the dragons of the wilderness. 4)  Whereas Edom saith, We are impoverished, but we will return and build the desolate places; thus saith the LORD of hosts, They shall build, but I will throw down; and they shall call them, The border of wickedness, and, The people against whom the LORD hath indignation for ever. 

As a nation, Israel questioned the love of God for them. It was as if they had forgotten all that God did for them from redeeming them out of Egypt unto the time of Malachi. This means that they distrusted God and did not believe His Word. They were ungrateful and disrespectful toward Jehovah.

Jehovah's love is sovereign and He chose the younger son Jacob over Esau because He loved Jacob. The normal custom was that the firstborn son received the double portion of inheritance from his father. Instead, God chose Jacob who fathered 12 sons, heads of the 12 tribes of Israel.

The Edomites were descendants of Esau.  Esau despised his birthright and in the process of doing so, he despised God. The Edomites would try to rebuild in the pride of their own efforts but God would overrule their attempts.

God's love for Jacob, the Father of Israel is held up by Malachi as an example of His love for Israel. God's action through history brought blessing and judgment upon Israel and Edom. Both nations  received appropriate judgment for their sins but God promised to restore only Israel to their land. 

Remember what the meanings are of the divine name Jehovah. He makes and keeps His covenants. He always does what He says He will do. He is the God of loving-kindness who inhabits eternity. Yet, He will draw close to those who have humble hearts and contrite spirits. He is the unchanging God, the God of holiness, the Great I Am.

From what we know about Jehovah's actions on behalf of His people, it is simply unthinkable that anyone would ever question His love. Yet, Israel did just that. Love, like righteousness, holiness, grace, and mercy, defines who God is and it is the motivation for His plan of redemption. No one should ever question the love of God.

"I have loved you saith the LORD" is a sublime declaration that shows the heart of Jehovah toward His covenant people. It conveys a tender love, a Father's love for a child. 

Jehovah's love clearly expressed.

Hosea 11:1  When Israel was a child, then I loved him, and called my son out of Egypt. 

The nation Israel was birthed when God led them out of Egyptian bondage. Thus, Jehovah was a Father to the people. 

Hosea 11:3  I taught Ephraim also to go, taking them by their arms; but they knew not that I healed them.

Ephraim is another name for Israel and when they needed help or protection from their enemies, God healed them from their afflictions. However, they did not always acknowledge His interventions on their behalf with thanksgiving, worship and grateful hearts. 

Hosea 11:4  I drew them with cords of a man, with bands of love: and I was to them as they that take off the yoke on their jaws, and I laid meat unto them,

The prophet Hosea was guided by God's Spirit to write some verses that illustrate the love of God for His people. 

It is a Father based love. Jehovah is like a father who loves and calls out to his son. He knows our frame and the weakness of our flesh. He remembers that we were formed of the dust of the earth and that we will return to the dust one day. Therefore, He has pity and compassion upon us and He seeks to care for us as any father would care for one of his children. 

He provides a healing love even when the people do not stop to think about Jehovah helping them. We are born in sin with damaged souls from sin.  Our relationship with God is broken because of sin but God provided salvation that heals the broken hearted, comforts the lonely and afflicted. 

It is a love that drew them close to Jehovah and love that has strong cords and bands that cannot be broken. It is an everlasting love. It is a love that removes the heavy burdens off the shoulders of God's people and a love that nurtures their soul.

The love of God is unconditional and it is this love that caused Jesus Christ to die on the cross in our place in order to save us from sin. 

An example of God's love for Israel. 

Deuteronomy 7:6-9  For thou art an holy people unto the LORD thy God: the LORD thy God hath chosen thee to be a special people unto himself, above all people that are upon the face of the earth. 7)  The LORD did not set his love upon you, nor choose you, because ye were more in number than any people; for ye were the fewest of all people: 8)  But because the LORD loved you, and because he would keep the oath which he had sworn unto your fathers, hath the LORD brought you out with a mighty hand, and redeemed you out of the house of bondmen, from the hand of Pharaoh king of Egypt.  

Moses prepared the next generation to enter into the promised land and he described the love of God as a love that revealed to the people the One, True God of heaven. He made them hear His voice and showed His great works because He loved their fathers. Often, the Hebrews were faithless but Jehovah was always faithful.

It is a choosing love whereby Jehovah chose Israel out of all the nations to be His holy people who would be a conduit of God's blessing to all nations. They weren't the wealthiest nation nor were they notably exceptional when compared to other people. 

It is an impartial love because Jehovah did not choose Israel because they were great warriors, mighty or many in number. Jehovah loved them because of the promise He made to Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. He set His love on them. What a blessed position for any nation to be loved so much by God. 

Exodus 19:3-6 3 And Moses went up unto God, and the LORD called unto him out of the mountain, saying, Thus shalt thou say to the house of Jacob, and tell the children of Israel; 
4) Ye have seen what I did unto the Egyptians, and how I bare you on eagles’ wings, and brought you unto myself. 5) Now therefore, if ye will obey my voice indeed, and keep my covenant, then ye shall be a peculiar treasure unto me above all people: for all the earth is mine: 6) And ye shall be unto me a kingdom of priests, and an holy nation. These are the words which thou shalt speak unto the children of Israel.

It is an enduring love because Jehovah rescued Israel from Egyptian slavery with an overwhelming display of His power. His will for His people is simple obedience to the voice of God recorded in the scriptures. Jehovah views Israel as His peculiar treasure, as that which is unique and of great value. He gave them a clear mission to be priests and a holy nation shining as lights in the world of darkness. 

Jeremiah 31:3 The LORD hath appeared of old unto me, saying, Yea, I have loved thee with an everlasting love: therefore with lovingkindness have I drawn thee. 

It is an everlasting love that constantly seeks to draw the wayward people of God back into a right standing with God. It is a love that sent God's son, Jesus Christ to the cross to pay for our sins so that we might receive eternal life (John 3:16). 

It is an unwavering love that always seeks to save sinners and demonstrates to us that God is not willing that any man, woman, or child perish in their sins. Rather, His will and desire is that all people hear the gospel, repent of their sins and turn to Christ for salvation. We must respond by faith to the gospel of Jesus Christ so that we can be born again into the family of God. 

It is a grace based love where God will love us unconditionally in spite of our flaws, failures and sin. Jehovah does not love us until we mess up. He will never throw up His hands and say "I am done loving this people!" Instead, He always grants us love, grace and mercy which we do not deserve and cannot earn. He always extends mercy to us when we turn to Him confessing and forsaking our sins (Proverbs 28:13)

Thoughts to Ponder..

Have you ever doubted the love that God has for you? I would like to encourage us to think about God's love for all humanity. 

First, the love of God does not overlook our sins. Rather, it motivated the Father to send His Son into the world to die in our place, paying for our sins and rising from the dead to become our Savior. It is a love that seeks to save sinners and to restore those who have fallen away. 

Second, the love of God can heal those with broken hearts and shattered dreams. His love will help us find our way out of darkness and back into His light. His love will restore us to Himself and instill purpose and direction for our lives. 

Third, the love of God is based upon grace and it never ceases to flow to us when we fail or fall short. This love will raise us up when we fall so that we might go forward in our walk with Jehovah. This love can take a damaged, broken life and turn it into something beautiful for the glory of God. 

Last, the love of God never wavers even though we waver in our faith. He never stops loving the born again child of God. He never ceases to seek what is best for each of us because He loves us so much. His love is eternal and will carry us through this life until He calls us home to be with Him.

May the Lord calm our hearts and still our spirit as we contemplate His vast love for us.

Bob