20160225 Thursday, February 25 2016
Malachi 01: The Jacob And Esau Lesson

by Wayne Blank
See also 1 Year Holy Bible Reading Plan

"Was not Esau Jacob's brother? saith the LORD: yet I loved Jacob"

Malachi, from the Hebrew name pronounced mawl-aw-kee, meaning servant, or messenger, was a true prophet (see Where Did True and False Prophets Originate?) of the LORD (see The Identity Of The LORD God and The LORD God Our Saviour) in the era of Zerubbabel (see Zerubbabel's Return), Ezra (see Ezra's Journey From Babylon) and Nehemiah (see The Arrival Of Nehemiah's Cavalry) - when the people of Judah had returned from their Babylonian exile (see also Why Didn't The Exiles Want To Go Home?).

Malachi's LORD-given prophecies were very similar to the warnings that were delivered to the people of Judah before they had been taken into exile, in the time of Jeremiah (see Jeremiah: The Prophet's Conception). They were apparently already falling back to "obeying" the LORD in ways that they chose for themselves. Much of present day "Judaism," which resulted in them not recognizing the Messiah when He came, originated in the time after that return from Babylon (see Israel In History and Prophecy: Judaism; also Israel Never Knew Purim, Hanukkah Or Judaism). Much of what calls itself Christianity has done the same thing - the reason that they won't immediately recognize the Messiah when He returns, but will instead try to fight Him (see Antichristians and The Coming World Dictator).

The Book of Malachi begins with the reason why Esau lost the LORD's favor (see the Fact Finder questions below) - and why it was the same reason that Israel and Judah also lost the LORD's favor, despite the advantage of the Messianic-purpose blessings and responsibilities that they had been given. Notice even the analogy of "the LORD's table" was repeated, with the same results.

"1:1 The burden of the word of the LORD to Israel by 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, 1:3 And I hated Esau, and laid his mountains and his heritage waste for the dragons of the wilderness.

1:4 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.

1:5 And your eyes shall see, and ye shall say, The LORD will be magnified from the border of Israel. 1:6 A son honoureth his father, and a servant his master: if then I be a father, where is mine honour? and if I be a master, where is my fear? saith the LORD of hosts unto you, O priests, that despise my name.

And ye say, Wherein have we despised thy name?

1:7 Ye offer polluted bread upon mine altar; and ye say, Wherein have we polluted thee? In that ye say, The table of the LORD is contemptible. 1:8 And if ye offer the blind for sacrifice, is it not evil? and if ye offer the lame and sick, is it not evil? offer it now unto thy governor; will he be pleased with thee, or accept thy person? saith the LORD of hosts.

1:9 And now, I pray you, beseech God that he will be gracious unto us: this hath been by your means: will he regard your persons? saith the LORD of hosts.

1:10 Who is there even among you that would shut the doors for nought? neither do ye kindle fire on mine altar for nought. I have no pleasure in you, saith the LORD of hosts, neither will I accept an offering at your hand. 1:11 For from the rising of the sun even unto the going down of the same my name shall be great among the Gentiles; and in every place incense shall be offered unto my name, and a pure offering: for my name shall be great among the heathen, saith the LORD of hosts.

1:12 But ye have profaned it, in that ye say, The table of the LORD is polluted; and the fruit thereof, even his meat, is contemptible. 1:13 Ye said also, Behold, what a weariness is it! and ye have snuffed at it, saith the LORD of hosts; and ye brought that which was torn, and the lame, and the sick; thus ye brought an offering: should I accept this of your hand? saith the LORD.

1:14 But cursed be the deceiver, which hath in his flock a male, and voweth, and sacrificeth unto the Lord a corrupt thing: for I am a great King, saith the LORD of hosts, and my name is dreadful among the heathen." (Malachi 1:1-14 KJV)

Fact Finder: (a) How did the personal conflict between Jacob and Esau begin? (b) When did it end?
(a) See The Birth of Jacob and Esau and Esau's Blessing Taken By Jacob
(b) See Jacob's Peace With Esau and The Nations Of Esau