3. The Jewish exiles, now living like strangers in their own country,
shared something in common with many people today:
Lingering doubts about the goodness and love of God

4. It was not easy for the Jews then and is not easy for us now to accept
the simple and beautiful truth
that God loves us when going through personal, family, or national troubles.
In Malachi 1: 1-5, God addresses this very deep issue in a very peculiar way.

5. Evidence of God’s Love #1
He declares it!
Malachi 1:2a
“I have loved you,” says the Lord.
“But you ask, ‘How have you loved us?’”

6. Deuteronomy 7: 6-9 Just as God
had previously commanded His people to love Him, so He promises to continue to love them faithfully.

7. Evidence of God’s Love #2
God’s Grace to Israel
*** Malachi 2:b-3
*** Genesis 25: 21-34
*** Genesis 29: / Luke 14:26

8. Evidence of God’s Love #3 God’s Restoring of Judah
*** Malachi 2:4 (Judah was able to rebuild, given wise leaders and prophets)
*** Obadiah (Destruction of Edom)

9. Evidence of God’s Love #4 Making Judah a Witness to the Nations
Malachi 2:5
“You will see it with your own eyes and say, ‘Great is the Lord—even beyond the borders of Israel!’”

10. Because Judah didn’t love God and honor Him appropriately with their lives…
more blessings didn’t come to them and they continued to walk away from the One capable of providing them.

11. Romans 8: 31-39 We see that the love of God, in the person
of Jesus Christ, remains accessible to all who believe in God through Him,
not just the Jews.