“Do we not all have one father? Has not one God created us? Why do we deal treacherously each against his brother so as to profane the covenant of our fathers?”

1) Who is the father that Malachi is speaking of?
There is debate amongst theologians as to exactly who Malachi is referencing here as father. Some believe that he’s referencing Adam as the father of all mankind, just as Eve was the mother of all mankind (Genesis 3:20). Others believe that he is talking about Abraham as the father of all the Jewish people, and still others believe he is talking about God as the Father and Creator of all mankind.

 2) If one God created us, why do we struggle so much with those that are “different”?
In Malachi’s day, and even in our day, the Jews lived by a strict code of conduct. They had to be circumcised to be part of God’s covenant (Genesis 17). If they weren’t circumcised and didn’t live by the rules God set forth, they were not allowed to be part of the people of God. God clearly told them to separate themselves from those who were not of the covenant. Therefore, Jews were not to associate with Canaanites or Gentiles. God wanted His people to be set apart; however, He allowed EVERYONE to participate in His covenant…if they were willing to be circumcised and live according to His rules.

3) How do we deal treacherously against our brothers?
In this particular situation, Jews were intermarrying with non-Jews, but they were also divorcing their wives. This was considered a threat to all family members involved. If a Jew was marrying a non-Jew, they were allowing someone outside the covenant to enjoy the benefits of the covenant relationship, which, in turn, was keeping their Jewish brothers and sisters from having their fair share in the land, etc. If divorce was the case, we all know how treacherous that feels to anyone involved!

1) Who is the father that Malachi is speaking of?
Today, I believe it’s so important for us to recognize, especially as Christians, that we all have the same Father. When we say yes to Jesus, we are adopted into His family without regard to race, socio-economic status, mental or physical ability. We are all to be one, big, happy family with God as our Father! This is a great first step in recognizing that we really aren’t all that different.

2) If one God created us, why do we struggle so much with those that are “different”?
I think the reason we struggle so much with people that are different than us is because we’re scared of what we don’t know. We’re more comfortable around people that we know and understand. If we never take time to talk to someone of a different ethnicity than us, and to really get to know them, then we will always have preconceived notions that might not be true about them. The more time I spend with my African-American friends and my Mexican friends and my special needs friends, the more I realize that my misconceptions have been taught NOT experienced. Now that I KNOW these people, I realize that we are really not that different. We all want to be accepted and loved and appreciated and respected. Take time to get to KNOW someone that is “different” than you and you will find someone much like yourself, I assure you!

3) How do we deal treacherously against our brothers?
I think the most treacherous thing we can do in today’s age of racial tension is to remain silent, complacent, comfortable in our little lives with people just like us. When we only hang out with others that are exactly like us, who look like us, think like us, dress like us, etc., we are choosing to stay closed minded. We are choosing sin, for God’s Word says in James 4:17, “To one who knows the right thing to do and does not do it, to him it is sin.” God expects us to get out of our comfort zones and engage with those around us that are different than us. Find out where they’re coming from. Find out WHY they think and act the way they think and act. Unity doesn’t mean sameness! It means that we care enough about someone that we CHOOSE unity. We CHOOSE to speak up in their behalf. We CHOOSE love!!

Don’t miss today’s other Journey Study, Breaking The Silence!
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Want to know more about a specific word in a verse? Click on “Strong’s Interlinear Bible” then click the word you’d like to study. Find super awesome stuff like “origin”, “definition”, and even all the different ways that single word has been translated into English! If you want to be geeky, you can even click the word and hear its original pronunciation – That Is Awesome!

Want to get more background on a word or phrasing or passage? Click “Study Tools”, then pick a few commentaries to read their scholarly approach, keeping in mind that just because a commentary says it, doesn’t mean it’s true. (just like the internet :-))

Finding the original meaning is a huge deal when we study Scripture and can make all the difference in our understanding as we apply God’s truths to our everyday lives.

In our modern-day relationships, we want people to understand our original intention as we communicate; how much more so between God and humanity?!

Here’s a little bit more on why we take Digging Deeper so seriously.

Embracing God’s fullness in our lives is rooted in scripture and memorizing His word is vital to our continued growth and depth with Jesus.
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