Picture the scene: God’s people, back from exile, are struggling. They are struggling not just with their crops or their city, but with their devotion. The people have turned aside from God’s statutes since their fathers’ days and carried on for 1000 years with faltering faith. They deserved judgment, but God says, “You’re still here. Why? Because I don’t change.” His love, His promises, His character – He doesn’t change.
God’s people have faltered and drifted, and God calls them back with a mix of challenge and promise. He declares His unchanging nature, confronts their unfaithfulness, and offers a daring invitation to trust Him fully. It’s a conversation that echoes back from 450 years before Jesus and reaches us today with the same urgency and grace.
Life is full of faltering and shaking. Whether it’s the stock market, jobs, individuals, families, our health and even the church, all are prone to shaking and will be shaken! But Malachi reminds us: We are not consumed because God is unchanging. As believers, the grace that is ours in Christ, which comes to us from a good, wise, holy and unchanging Father, is what holds us fast. And God’s unchanging nature isn’t just great comfort, but it’s the foundation of our faithfulness. If God is steady, we can trust Him enough to obey, and to repent and return to Him when we’ve been shaken and strayed.
This text isn’t just about ancient Israel, but it’s about us. God speaks to every corner of our lives, including the places we hold tightest, like our wallets and our time. In verse 8 when it reads, “Will a man rob God?” it’s not about divine bookkeeping, but it’s about the heart. God doesn’t need our stuff. He owns it all! But God desires the best for His people, and that only happens when we trust, love and commit to His ways by faith.
Consider the God who never changes, the One who is faithful when we falter, who invites us back when we wander. Think about what we bring to Him, not just in our giving, but in our daily choices and walk of surrender before Him. Take a moment today to read these verses slowly and be reminded that He is the same yesterday, today, and forever, and He’s calling us to respond appropriately as His faithful stewards.
Reflection Questions:
- What does God’s unchanging nature mean to the believer living in a shaking world?
- Are there areas where you sense you’re holding back from God—time, resources, or trust?
- How might trusting God more deeply change the way you live this week?
Verses for Further Study
- Psalm 50:10-12: God’s ownership of all creation. Why He doesn’t need our gifts, but we need to give them.
- Matthew 6:19-21: Where your treasure is, there your heart will be. Reflect on what we value most.
- 2 Corinthians 9:6-8: The principle of sowing and reaping generously, with God loving a cheerful giver.
- Philippians 4:11-13: Paul’s contentment in all circumstances. How giving aligns with trust, not need.
- 1 Thessalonians 1:9-10: Turning from idols to serve God. Repentance as a relational act.
- Luke 21:1-4: The widow’s offering. Give from the heart, not abundance.