Malachi 1:3-5
The Message
2-3 God said, “I love you.”
You replied, “Really? How have you loved us?”
“Look at history” (this is God’s answer). “Look at how differently I’ve treated you, Jacob, from Esau: I loved Jacob and hated Esau. I reduced pretentious Esau to a molehill, turned his whole country into a ghost town.”
4 When Edom (Esau) said, “We’ve been knocked down, but we’ll get up and start over, good as new,” God-of-the-Angel-Armies said, “Just try it and see how far you get. When I knock you down, you stay down. People will take one look at you and say, ‘Land of Evil!’ and ‘the God-cursed tribe!’
5 “Yes, take a good look. Then you’ll see how faithfully I’ve loved you and you’ll want even more, saying, ‘May God be even greater, beyond the borders of Israel!’
* * *
Read full chapterCopyright © 1993, 2002, 2018 by Eugene H. Peterson
Bible Gateway Recommends
![Message Slimline Bible--soft leather-look, black/spring wildflowers](https://g.christianbook.com/dg/product/ingram/f108/581241.jpg)
![4.5 of 5.0 stars](/assets/images/merch/stars45.png?fdb54b15)
![The Message, Ministry Edition: The Bible in Contemporary Language](https://g.christianbook.com/dg/product/cbd/f108/065941.jpg)
![5.0 of 5.0 stars](/assets/images/merch/stars50.png?fdb54b15)
![The Message of Psalms: Premier Journaling Edition, blaze into view cover](https://g.christianbook.com/dg/product/web/f108/583985.jpg)
![The Message: The Bible in Contemporary Language - eBook](https://g.christianbook.com/dg/product/web/f108/63139EB.jpg)
![4.0 of 5.0 stars](/assets/images/merch/stars40.png?fdb54b15)
![The Message Outreach Edition, Large-Print, softcover-Case of 10](https://g.christianbook.com/dg/product/web/f108/582513CS.jpg)
![4.0 of 5.0 stars](/assets/images/merch/stars40.png?fdb54b15)