Podcast 62, Stories of the Bible, “The Book of Malachi, Ch 1”

The opening statement of Malachi is curious.

Malachi 1:1

The burden of the word of the Lord to Israel by Malachi.

Why is it a burden? It is a burden because the children of Israel have fallen away from their covenants. Malachi, the last prophet of the Old Testament, like other prophets, must call them to repentance. They don’t listen. The Ten Lost Tribes have long since been dispersed. The only ones left are the tribes of Judah and Benjamin. The Tribe of Benjamin has been absorbed into the Tribe of Judah and has lost its identity. From this point on the term “Jews” referring to members of the tribe of Judah, replace the House of Israel. The Jews will not have another prophet for 400 years. That prophet, after an extended apostasy, will be John the Baptist, the forerunner of Christ. And then of course will come the greatest prophet the world has ever known or will ever know, who, as prophesied, comes through the tribe of Judah which comprises the seed of David, even Jesus Christ, the Son of God, the Savior and Redeemer of the World.

The word of Malachi must have been very shocking to the Jews for he predicts the downfall of Judah and for the first time in Jewish history, the prophesy is made that the Blessings of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob will be transferred to the gentiles.

The Book of Malachi, which is centered on Christ, is about changing the ordinances and breaking the everlasting covenant spoken of by Isaiah. The House of Israel has broken their covenants with the Lord.

Malachi uses the format of question & answer, a format dominant in Malachi and not uncommon in the Holy Scriptures. First Malachi declares that the Lord loved Israel.

Malachi 1:2

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,

It was only through a miracle from God that Rebecca, Isaac’s wife, had children. It was a greater miracle that she had twins.

Malachi reminds the Jews that Esau, the eldest son of Jacob who had the covenant by birthright, lost the covenant by frivolously bartering it away for a bowl of pottage.

Genesis 25:21-26

And Isaac entreated the Lord for his wife, because she was barren: and the Lord was entreated of him, and Rebekah his wife conceived. And the children struggled together within her; and she said, If it be so, why am I thus? And she went to inquire of the Lord. And the Lord said unto her, Two nations are in thy womb, and two manner of people shall be separated from thy bowels; and the one people shall be stronger than the other people; and the elder shall serve the younger. And when her days to be delivered were fulfilled, behold, there were twins in her womb. And the first came out red, all over like an hairy garment; and they called his name Esau. And after that came his brother out, and his hand took hold on Esau’s heel; and his name was called Jacob: and Isaac was threescore years old when she bare them.

By birthright, of course, the primary inheritance should go to the elder, which was Esau. Isaac loved Esau, a rugged hunter, and Rebecca loved Jacob.