God is Great Beyond the Borders

The context of this message is God confronting the people of Israel through the prophet Malachi for their spiritual apathy. It was not that they were denying or opposing God, they were simply ignoring his love for them. This “oracle” opens with the people disputing God’s love for them. God immediately reminds them that he has directed his sovereign choice toward them. Thus he cannot forsake them but will continue to love them forever. At the same time, his anger endures forever against Edom, those whom he has not chosen. In this way, the people must acknowledge God’s love and worship him by saying “Great is the Lord beyond the border of Israel!” Have you forgotten God’s abundant saving grace? Do you meditate regularly on the faithfulness of a God who loves the faithless? Understanding and recalling the love of God is critical to our worship and joy in him.