Never doubt God’s character

The year 1776 was a tough time for the Continental Army. Defeat followed defeat. At the lowest point Thomas Paine wrote The Crisis. He said, “These are the times that try men’s souls. The summer soldier and the sunshine patriot will, in this crisis, shrink from the service of their country; but he that stands by it now, deserves the love and thanks of man and woman. Tyranny, like hell, is not easily conquered; yet we have this consolation within us, that the harder the conflict, the more glorious the triumph.”

The people of Israel in Malachi’s time also faced hard circumstances. The people returned from the captivity in three stages. They returned under Joshua and Zerubbabel in Ezra 1-6. About 50,000 people returned. They rebuilt the temple. Haggai and Zechariah ministered at this time.

A gap of 58 years occurred before the next stage of the return. Under Ezra about 2,000 people returned. This is detailed in Ezra 7-10. Temple worship was restored.

Another gap of 13 years took place. The events of Esther occurred. People returned under Nehemiah. This is found in the Book of Nehemiah. The walls were rebuilt and the city of Jerusalem restored.

The people faced tough times. Inflation was high. The Medo-Persian empire dominated. Enemies were powerful. There was no shekinah glory. The people began to complain against God. They said, “It is vain to serve God; and what profit is it that we have kept His charge, and that we have walked in mourning before the Lord of hosts? So now we call the arrogant blessed; not only are the doers of wickedness built up but they also test God and escape” (Malachi 3:14-15). They attacked the faithfulness of God. They basically said, “God is not faithful.”

Hard circumstances sometimes cause us to doubt God’s character. We must never doubt God! In Malachi 3:16-4:3 God defends His faithfulness in three points…

First, the righteous will be rewarded (3:16-18). “Then those who feared the Lord spoke to one another, and the Lord gave attention and heard it, and a book of remembrance was written before Him for those who fear the Lord and who esteem His name. ‘They will be Mine,’ says the Lord of hosts, ‘on the day that I prepare My own possession, and I will spare them as a man spares his own son who serves him.’ So you will again distinguish between the righteous and the wicked, between one who serves God and one who does not serve Him.”

If you are a follower of the Lord Jesus, God has written your name in a book. He describes you as His son or daughter. God never forgets and promises to reward His people. Even a cup of cold water given in the name of Jesus will be rewarded (Matthew 10:42)!

Second, the wicked will be judged (4:1). “’For behold, the day is coming, burning like a furnace; and all the arrogant and every evildoer will be chaff; and the day that is coming will set them ablaze,’ says the Lord of hosts, ‘so that it will leave them neither root not branch’” (verse 1).

An old Romanian proverb says, “God comes with leaden feet but strikes with iron hands.” God’s wrath is slow but it is extremely powerful. Never misinterpret the patience of God for weakness. God promises to judge the wicked.

The only way to escape the judgment of God is through the death and resurrection of His Son Jesus. Jesus satisfied the wrath of God for His people on the cross. God will judge sin. We must turn to His Son today.

Third, the righteous will win (4:2). “But for you who fear My name, the Sun of Righteousness will rise with healing in its wings; and you will go forth and skip about like calves from the stall.” The Sun of Righteousness, I believe, is another name for the Lord Jesus. He comes with wings. As the sun rises every day, so the coming of God Himself is certain. The sun brings life. Jesus is the Light of the World.

Skipping about like calves from the stall is a picture from an agricultural society. Calves were locked in the barn for the winter. The grass begins to grow. They skip and revel in their new freedom and green grass. God promises to reward the righteous.

Our God is faithful. The Second Coming will make all things right. Thomas Paine is correct, “The harder the conflict, the more glorious the triumph.” It is a hard conflict but the triumph will be glorious. We look forward to that great day!

Ethan Hansen is a pastor at Faith Bible Fellowship in Big Lake.