Israel Beloved By God
2. “I have loved you,” says the LORD. “Yet you say, ‘In what way have You loved us?’ Was not Esau Jacob’s brother?” Says the LORD. “Yet Jacob I have loved;
3. But Esau I have hated, And laid waste his mountains and his heritage For the jackals of the wilderness.”
4. Even though Edom has said, “We have been impoverished, But we will return and build the desolate places,” Thus says the LORD of hosts: “They may build, but I will throw down; They shall be called the Territory of Wickedness, And the people against whom the LORD will have indignation forever.
5. Your eyes shall see, And you shall say, ‘The LORD is magnified beyond the border of Israel.’
Malachi 1:2-5 (NKJV)
Malachi 1:2-5 begins with God reminding Israel of a truth they had forgotten: “I have loved you” (Malachi 1:2). After years of hardship and disappointment, the people questioned God’s love and asked, “In what way have You loved us?” To answer their question, God pointed them back to their history. He reminded them that although Jacob and Esau were brothers, He chose Jacob and his descendants, Israel, to receive the covenant promises made to Abraham. This choice was not based on Israel’s goodness or strength, but on God’s grace and faithfulness; “7. “The Lord did not set His love on you nor choose you because you were more in number than any other people, for you were the least of all peoples; 8. but because the Lord loves you, and because He would keep the oath which He swore to your fathers, the Lord has brought you out with a mighty hand, and redeemed you from the house of bondage, from the hand of Pharaoh king of Egypt.” Deuteronomy 7:7-8 (NKJV)
God then declares, “Jacob I have loved; but Esau I have hated” (Malachi 1:2-3). This statement does not mean God had sinful hatred toward Esau as an individual. Rather, it speaks of God’s sovereign choice of Jacob as the covenant heir. The descendants of Esau became the nation of Edom, and throughout their history, they repeatedly opposed God’s people. Edom refused to help Israel during their wilderness journey (Numbers 20:14-21) and later rejoiced when Jerusalem was destroyed (Obadiah 10-12). Because of their pride and continual rebellion against God, judgment came upon them.
In verse 4, Edom claims they will rebuild their ruined nation, but God responds, “They may build, but I will throw down.” Edom trusted in its own strength rather than humbling itself before God. Their pride led to their downfall, fulfilling the truth of Proverbs 16:18: “Pride goes before destruction, and a haughty spirit before a fall.” God called Edom “The Territory of Wickedness” because of their persistent opposition to His ways.
The passage concludes with a promise that Israel would recognize God’s greatness. “The Lord is magnified beyond the border of Israel” (Malachi 1:5). Through His faithfulness to Israel and His judgment upon Edom, God revealed both His love and His justice. These verses remind us that God’s love is rooted in His grace and covenant faithfulness, and His judgments are always righteous. Even when His people question His love, His faithfulness remains unchanged.
Stay the course for the Kingdom,
Austin