Malachi 3-4 -- The One Time It's Okay To Test God

The Israelites were arguing with Malachi, and therefore arguing with God.  “They’d already argued with him about God’s love, God’s name, and God’s teaching … and now they would argue about … the justice of God, giving to God, and serving God.  People who argue with God rarely receive blessings from God.  It’s when our mouth is stopped and we submit to His will that we can experience the grace of God,” my commentary said.

God told Malachi to say, “You have tired the Lord with your words.”  They answered, “How have we tired Him?” (Arguing again.)  With all of the sins they were committing, “for God to bless people like that would mean approving of their sins,” my commentary added.

They cried that God wasn’t just.  But no one can ever truthfully claim that.  “The cross of Christ is proof that the same God who ordained the law of sin and death also took His own medicine and willingly died for sinners.”

They kept arguing with Malachi, and finally God had him say, “Bring a full tenth of what you earn … Test Me in this.  I will open the windows of heaven for you and pour out all the blessings you need.  I will stop the insects so they won’t eat your crops.  The grapes won’t fall from your vines before they are ready to pick.  All the nations will call you blessed.”  They had no idea what God could and would do if they only obeyed.

This is the one time it’s okay to test God.  I still remember the day He broke through my own resistance on this and I decided to take Him up on it.  I’ve never looked back.  He’s been more than faithful to keep His promises as I’ve kept mine.

Malachi added a note about the results of testing God and finding Him faithful and agreeing with Him:  “The names of those who honored the Lord and respected Him were written in His presence in a book to be remembered.”

Father, help me not to be one of the arguers and complainers, but one of the doers.  Help me not to argue with You or question Your wisdom, for Your thoughts are much higher than mine, and they are of blessings, not of harm.

Your Brother In Christ,

Gary Ford