Malachi Chapter One, Wrath Upon Edom

 

Edom’s ruin demonstrated God’s vital presence as Israel’s benefactor. God defended His people and redressed the wrongs done upon them by a kingdom that ought to have treated the Hebrews like brothers. Rather, Edom became a vessel for God’s wrath. Like Pharaoh, who first determined to harden his own heart, only for God to further strengthen that resolve, Edom clung fast to old hatred and sought Israel’s demise. The Psalmist pens, “Surely the wrath of man shall praise You; with the remainder of wrath You shall gird Yourself,” Psalm 76:10. Edom’s wrath brought upon them God’s indignation. Their nation had been judged, and like Canaan would be desolated, and in Malachi’s time, is referred to as “the Territory of Wickedness.” Malachi confirms that this is something the Jews will witness for themselves in an act of providential retribution. The execution of it will provoke the people of Israel to acknowledge that God’s name is magnified, or increased/enlarged beyond Israel’s boundaries. Why? God seeks the good of men, to restore them to the image they blighted in the Fall. Then, and only then, may we enjoy proper fellowship with our Creator.

God is ever merciful, but also all knowing (omniscient). Just as in the case of Pharaoh, He knows the nature of those who will remain opposed to Him regardless of His efforts to reach them. We read that during the Tribulation that there will be many people who “did not receive the love of the truth, that they may be saved. And for this reason God will send them strong delusion, that they should believe the lie, that they all may be condemned who did not believe the truth but had pleasure in unrighteousness,” 2 Thessalonians 2:10-12. There is apparently a termination point, known only to our God, in which a person’s resolve places them beyond God’s mercy. Yes, the person chooses to solidify their rebellion. Then, and only then, does God send this strong delusion to them who have accepted the anti-Christ’s reign and rejected the Holy Spirit. Stephen, when brought before the Sanhedrin, declared to them, “You stiff-necked and uncircumcised in heart and ears! You always resist the Holy Spirit; as your fathers did, so do you,” Acts 7:51. Refusal to submit to God the Holy Spirit’s convicting presence as He appeals to us is the cardinal sin for which forgiveness cannot be given, Matthew 12:24, 28, 31, 32, see also John 16:8, 9. Since the Holy Spirit leads men to the truth, and if we draw back from His leading, we have nowhere left to go but to perdition, Hebrews 10:38, 39. Rather than believing this to be a purely New Testament doctrine, we go back to Genesis and read, “And the Lord said, “My Spirit shall not strive with man forever, for he is indeed flesh,” Genesis 6:3. The verb, “strive,” means to struggle or contend with. Even if we opt for the alternate rendering found in the Septuagint, “abide,” it bears the similar connotation of dealing with or enduring something.

 

There is then a demarcation to be found that runs through the history of this world and its peoples. God bears with the ungodly, and then deals with their wicked rebellion in His own time. “What if God, wanting to show His wrath and to make His power known, endured with much longsuffering the vessels of wrath prepared for destruction?” Romans 9:22. Here we find strikingly similar language to Malachi’s burden when the prophet wrote, “They shall be called the Territory of Wickedness, and the people against whom the LORD will have indignation forever,” Malachi 1:4. Human choice does not overturn God’s sovereignty. Scripture attests that there are two types of people in the world and in the church. The world produces wheat and tares (Matthew 13:30), while the church has a mixture of vessels for honor and dishonor, 2 Timothy 2:20, 21. Our choices hardly negate God’s intentions for human redemption. In either situation we vindicate God’s wisdom. Between the saved and lost we either glorify His mercy or his justice. Within the church we either glorify His sanctifying power or His faithfulness even in the midst of our faithlessness, 2 Timothy 2:13.

 

While Israel’s ultimate destiny was to become a vessel of God’s mercy through whom much of His revelation to mankind came to pass, Edom’s fate was to pursue momentary gain in exchange for spiritual profit. Like their forebear, they despised their birthright, Genesis 25:34, Hebrews 12:16, 17. When Edom committed violence against Israel they sought the wealth Jacob’s God bestowed upon them, not the riches of God Himself. Thus they fell into the pit of foolishly choosing the world over the soul. “For what profit is it to a man if he gains the whole world, and loses his own soul? Or what will a man give in exchange for his soul?” Matthew 16:26. Human life is worth more than anything this world offers, because we are created in God’s image, after His likeness. But when Edom had transgressed to a point beyond redemption, God, as Judge over all, passed sentence upon them. “Shall not the Judge of all the earth do right? Those who are outside (the church) God judges,” Genesis 18:25, 1 Corinthians 5:13. As for God’s loving intention for the world in general, and the Gentiles in particular, we’ll address that again toward the end of the chapter.