The Overlooked Proof of God’s Love

If you were questioning God’s love for you and the Lord was going to respond, what kind of answer would you expect him to give? If you are like me, you probably would not expect God to tell you about people he hates. However, this is precisely how God answers Israel in the book of Malachi (Mal. 1:1-5).

The people of Israel are back in the promised land after 70 years of captivity. The temple has been rebuilt, and the wall around Jerusalem has either been repaired or is in the process of being restored, but the people’s hearts are far from God.

God gives Malachi a burdensome message to deliver to Israel. The book of Malachi carries several heavy discourses dealing with topics such as Israel’s polluted worship, their unfaithfulness to the covenant, and even robbing God. Still, God starts by telling them that he loves them (Mal. 1:2).

The problem with this message of love is that Israel does not believe it. They are blind to spiritual realities. They question God by asking, “How have you loved us?” God responds to their question with another question. “Is not Esau Jacob’s brother (Mal. 1:2)?” Why does God do this? He does it because understanding the contrast between Jacob and Esau is the key to understanding God’s love for them.

Esau was Jacob’s twin brother. Not only was he Jacob’s brother, he was the older brother. If one of the two were worthy of greater honor, it would be Esau, but God chose the younger. Both are offspring of Abraham, but the covenant of grace flows through Jacob (Israel) and not Esau (Edom).

God tells them that “Jacob he loved and Esau he hated (Mal. 1:2-3).” God then continues to give proof that he hated Edom. God reminds Israel that Edom was also taken captive by the Chaldeans, but unlike Israel, God did not restore them. Like Israel, Edom said they would rebuild, but God would tear down what they tried to build. Mount Seir was a wicked city, and the anger of the Lord will be against it forever (Mal. 1:4).

These proofs of God’s hatred of Esau are given to help Israel remember God’s love towards them. God had chosen them, and he is speaking to them through Malachi. God did not do this for Esau and Edom. He was rebuilding Jerusalem, the Holy City, in contrast to the wicked country of Mount Seir, which he would leave desolate. His anger toward Israel will not burn forever, unlike his anger towards Edom.

This contrast between God’s love and judgment forms the foundation of the book of Malachi. It also explains why God is chastening Israel—they lacked gratitude for His mercy and believed they deserved more. Forgetful of His love, their hearts had grown cold.

How does this apply to Christians under the new covenant? We, too, grow frustrated when things do not go how we think they should, so we may be tempted to say, “What has God done for me lately.” Sometimes, God’s response is to remind us of those who are not his. We don’t deserve his love, but he is with us, causing all things to work together for the good of those who love him.

Though it is often asked, why did God hate Esau? The better question is, why does he love us? There is nothing in us that deserves it. It is all of his free grace. If you have grown forgetful of God’s love for you, never forget that we deserve the same hell that will be experienced by those who reject God. Contrast their existence without God with the grace you have received, and continue doing this until your heart wells up with gratitude.  He truly loves his children.

-D. Eaton