“Oh, the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are His judgments and His ways past finding out!”
Romans 11:33
How do we respond to the ways of God? Do we question the way He works in our lives? Malachi continued to challenge the people about this very issue (Mal. 2:17–3:6). Many of us have asked, “Why do bad things happen to good people, and why do good things happen to bad people?” We can easily become like the people in Malachi’s day, who justified themselves and blamed God for their circumstances. But we must remember what God says: “My thoughts are not your thoughts, nor are your ways My ways… For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are My ways higher than your ways, and My thoughts than your thoughts” (Isa. 55:8–9).
The people asked, “Where is the God of justice?” Malachi answered by presenting two messengers—John the Baptist and the Lord Jesus. John the Baptist (Mal. 3:1; Matt. 11:10; Mark 1:2; Luke 7:27) had the unique privilege of preaching at the close of the Old Testament era and the beginning of the New. How did John answer their question about God’s justice? He pointed Israel to Jesus as the Lamb of God (John 1:29–31). When Jesus came into this world, He came as the Substitute for sinners. On the cross, He fully satisfied God’s justice (Rom. 3:21–26).
The second messenger mentioned in Malachi 3:1 is the Lord Himself. Malachi 3:2–6 speaks of the Lord’s second coming, when He will return to reign as King of kings. He will come at an unexpected time (Matt. 24:36) to purify an unprepared and unclean nation. In that day, the Lord Jesus will execute righteous judgment against all that is unrighteous (Mal. 3:5).
How does this answer their question about God being just? Malachi reminds them that God is working according to a divine plan that we cannot fully see. He sees the whole picture, while we see only a single snapshot at a time. When questions arise, we must remember that God is God. He does not change, and neither do His plans, His love, His grace, or His holiness.
Anchor For Today:
God moves in a mysterious way, His wonders to perform;
He plants His footsteps in the sea, And rides upon the storm.
– William Cowper