S) "2 'I have loved you,' says the Lord. But you say, 'How have You loved us?' 'Was not Esau Jacob's brother?' declares the Lord. 'Yet I have loved Jacob; 3 but I have hated Esau, and I have made his mountains a desolation and appointed his inheritance for the jackals of the wilderness.'"
Malachi 1:2-3 (NASB)
O) This is a passage that is often taken out of context, as an attempt to show a contradiction in Scripture. Since God is love, how could He also hate Esau? This is, first, a failing of the English language. We have one word for "love" while many other languages are much more nuanced. Even aside from that, this particular passage was written to a people who had just been decimated over the course of about one hundred years (with the seventy year exile in there). They were struggling to regain a devotion to the LORD, struggling to understand holiness. This passage is not about God's treatment of Esau (that is, the nation of Edom), but it is actually a commentary of His devotion and treatment of Jacob (that is, the nation of Israel, before their civil war). To make His point, the LORD contrasts Jacob and Esau. Esau had abandoned what his father and grandfather had taught (Isaac and Abraham, that is). God's judgment and punishment of Edom was perfectly just. His righteous justice was properly served. However, it was because of His love for His chosen people, that He saved a remnant. They didn't feel particularly "saved" and the message given to Malachi, was to remind the people of the fate of Edom, who was so close to the promise of Abraham! God made Edom a desolation, and refused to let it be restored. He also made Jerusalem a desolation, but He restored it! In this passage, "love" and "hate" are simply terms of polarity, to show two sides of God's righteousness. It would also serve to say that God gave mercy to Jacob and justice to Edom. They were all guilty, but God's "loved Jacob" by giving Him mercy. This does not, in any way, contradict His character. His character is to judge righteously, which He also did to Jacob. The difference, is that it is also in His character to see a person's faith and credit it as righteousness. That is exactly what preserved the remnant in Judah. God found some who would remain faithful, although it was precious few. He was able to credit them with righteousness, and they were not judged as guilty. Apparently, this was not the case in Edom. The most direct, simplest way to convey this contrast, is to simply say that He hated Esau, but that He (still) loved Jacob.
A) One application for me, is to simply voice the truth in the face of opposition. People try to pit this passage against 1 John 4:8, as if there is disharmony in God's character. That is not the case, but people often do not want truth, they want corroboration. If they can find something that discredits the Bible, then they think it should have no authority. I suppose that's true, but they will never truly discredit the Bible, and it's authority is unblemished. But, it is also still important for me to read this passage without consideration for controversy. This passage is still showing me the unfailing, persevering, faithful, and preserving love of God. It is truly humbling to remember what I have done, the sinful life I have actually lived, and realize how merciful God has been to me. I can never question His love, because in Christ, I am forgiven. In Christ, all of the just punishments for my sins were absolved at the cross.
P) Father, Your grace and mercy are so overwhelming, that I don't even know the dangers, destruction, and desolation a You have kept from me. You have loved me with more than I can fully know. Give me wisdom, Lord, to express Your love for others. Give me words, and show me how to share, to properly show people Your true character. Thank You for loving me. Let Your will be done. In Jesus's name I pray. Amen.
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