Robbing God
: Robbing God
Similarly, when Jacob’s descendants returned from their exile, they rebuilt the altar at Jerusalem, but they were grossly negligent in offering their tithes (cf. Neh. 13:10–13). This negligence may have seemed justified because of crop failure, drought, and pestilence (Mal. 3:10–11). The Lord reveals, however, that these natural disasters were not the cause of the nation’s disobedience, but the cursed result (3:8; cf. Hag. 1:6, 9–11; 2:16–19).
QUESTIONS MALACHI ANSWERS
How have You loved us? (Mal. 1:2) God’s choice of Israel proves His love.
How have we despised Your name? (Mal. 1:6) Failure to honor God is disrespect.
How have we defiled You? (Mal. 1:7) Failing to give God our best cheapens Him.
Why shouldn’t God hear our prayers? (Mal. 2:14) You break faith with your wife.
How have we wearied God? (Mal. 2:17) By calling the evil person good.
What do you mean, “return” to God? (Mal. 3:6) If you violate God’s Laws, you’ve left Him and thus must return.
How do we rob You? (Mal. 3:8) By failing to pay required tithes.
What have we said against You? (Mal. 3:13) Saying it is futile to serve God is to deny Him.
30 “Every tithe of the land, whether of the seed of the land or of the fruit of the trees, is the LORD’s; it is holy to the LORD. 31 If a man wishes to redeem some of his tithe, he shall add a fifth to it. 32 And every tithe of herds and flocks, every tenth animal of all that pass under the herdsman’s staff, shall be holy to the LORD. 33 One shall not differentiate between good or bad, neither shall he make a substitute for it; and if he does substitute for it, then both it and the substitute shall be holy; it shall not be redeemed.”
24 For the tithe of the people of Israel, which they present as a contribution to the LORD, I have given to the Levites for an inheritance. Therefore I have said of them that they shall have no inheritance among the people of Israel.”
10 I also found out that the portions of the Levites had not been given to them, so that the Levites and the singers, who did the work, had fled each to his field. 11 So I confronted the officials and said, “Why is the house of God forsaken?” And I gathered them together and set them in their stations. 12 Then all Judah brought the tithe of the grain, wine, and oil into the storehouses. 13 And I appointed as treasurers over the storehouses Shelemiah the priest, Zadok the scribe, and Pedaiah of the Levites, and as their assistant Hanan the son of Zaccur, son of Mattaniah, for they were considered reliable, and their duty was to distribute to their brothers. 14 Remember me, O my God, concerning this, and do not wipe out my good deeds that I have done for the house of my God and for his service.
24 One gives freely, yet grows all the richer;
another withholds what he should give, and only suffers want.
16 “You shall not put the LORD your God to the test, as you tested him at Massah.
21 For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.
24 For the tithe of the people of Israel, which they present as a contribution to the LORD, I have given to the Levites for an inheritance. Therefore I have said of them that they shall have no inheritance among the people of Israel.”