Devotion on Malachi 3:5-12

by rev. dr. jen garbin

Then I will draw near to you for judgement; I will be swift to bear witness against the sorcerers, against the adulterers, against those who swear falsely, against those who oppress the hired workers in their wages, the widow, and the orphan, against those who thrust aside the alien, and do not fear me, says the Lord of hosts.

For I the Lord do not change; therefore you, O children of Jacob, have not perished. Ever since the days of your ancestors you have turned aside from my statutes and have not kept them. Return to me, and I will return to you, says the Lord of hosts. But you say, ‘How shall we return?’

Will anyone rob God? Yet you are robbing me! But you say, ‘How are we robbing you?’ In your tithes and offerings! You are cursed with a curse, for you are robbing me—the whole nation of you! Bring the full tithe into the storehouse, so that there may be food in my house, and thus put me to the test, says the Lord of hosts; see if I will not open the windows of heaven for you and pour down for you an overflowing blessing. I will rebuke the locust for you, so that it will not destroy the produce of your soil; and your vine in the field shall not be barren, says the Lord of hosts. Then all nations will count you happy, for you will be a land of delight, says the Lord of hosts. - Malachi 3:5-12

This is perhaps not the first passage one might expect to reflect on as we enter into these opening days of Advent. It doesn’t seem entirely hopeful, happy, or maybe even as light hearted or uplifting as we would like. Too often we want to hear only words of affirmation, joy, “its-going-to-be-okay-ness.” Seldom do we want to be convicted, challenged, and woken up to what it truly means to be children of God and the community of Christ. Yet…we need to be called out to stand up and stand apart, to live into the incredible opportunity and wonder of walking in the footsteps of Jesus the Christ. We are not called into complacency, status quo, or apathy. We are a covenant people, in relationship with a jealous, steadfast, and awe-inspiring God who demands we keep up!

This passage is exactly what we need to be reminded of as we enter into this period of anticipation and reflection. These powerful words by the ancient prophet remind us that the God who parents us has never forsaken us even when we have turned away in selfishness, shame, or fear. Malachi unflinchingly reminds us that God has never turned away from us…and never will! Even when we embrace scarcity and cry that we do not have enough, turning our backs on the steadfast promise that we have abundant life…God never turns away from us. Even when we turn inward, protecting our seemingly fragile resources and fearful of an uncertain future…God never turns away from us. And yet…we turn away from God. We lean into our own insecurity, defensiveness, protectionism, and garrison ourselves away from the cries and needs of the world clamouring at our walls. We turn away from God and the world created out of Divine Love…and we rob that Love of the abundance, gifts, and grace we are called to share.

Friends, we have all travelled through a life-changing, tumultuous, and catastrophic recent past. We have all suffered and experienced more trauma and pain than any of us could have imagined. And…we were never abandoned by the God who called us into being. Through it all, we were accompanied, strengthened, undergirded, and loved by the Creator, the Sustainer, the Giver of all Life. That kind of grace should inspire us to reflect on the magnitude of abundance with which we have been blessed. That kind of love should embolden us to keep reaching out beyond our own needs, our own walls, our own biases and fears, to ensure that the world around us and all those who suffer know that kind of assurance and love as well. It is my prayer and hope that we continue to break out of our cocoons and with wings of hope, grace, compassion, and wholeness, shower our communities, neighbourhoods, and neighbours, with not just a tithe of our capacity…but with the abundance of it.

I hope that this passage becomes one of inspiration for us all. A reminder that when, especially when, the going gets tough…we are bound up in thrice-wound cords of love and strength that will not only get us through, but will enable us to be vehicles of grace and healing for and with others. Let us return to the God in whose embrace we find our life-source! Let us return to the spirit of generosity, unity, peace, and wholeness that captured our hearts and called us to a new life! Let us be joy-filled and grateful not only for the love showered on us, but for the call to be partners with the Source of All Love in an enterprise that is transforming for all. 

For more devotions, download Imagine God’s Love Revealed - 2021 Advent Devotional Booklet by the College of Regional Ministers!

Rev. Dr. Jen Garbin wears many hats. Jen is the Regional Minister for the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) in Canada, a church planter, the mother of two grown children (Rita and Rowan), and she is a life-long student. She spends free moments growing green edible things in the backyard, enjoys oil painting, singing, playing piano and mandolin, and writing. Jen calls Windsor, Ontario home.