Joshua witnessed the faithfulness of God throughout his lifetime. As a young man, he accompanied Moses . As his servant, he waited at the foot of the mountain as God spoke and wrote to Moses. He heard God’s word and knew His word is truth. God never breaks His promises, and He never changes. For that reason, Joshua had zero doubt God will accomplish all He has proclaimed. Today, we come to the end of the Old Testament in our study. My hope is that you also hold this truth firm in your own heart. As He was yesterday, so is He today. And forever He will be the same.
The grass withers, the flower fades, but the word of our God stands forever. Isaiah 40: 8 NASB
But When Will Justice Reign?
Sometimes, we, like the people of Judah, wonder how long? We become complacent with our lives. We tend to believe “Sure He is coming, but not yet. I have plenty of time. It may not be even in my lifetime.” We think that even when the truth is staring us in the face. We are nearing the evening, and the midnight hour approaches rapidly. In Ezekiel’s day the people had watched Israel fall. The first group of exiles were taken with Daniel. Ezekiel was within the second group. Yet, the people did not believe God would ever allow Jerusalem to fall to the Babylonians. He believed that regardless of how much they themselves sinned. God would protect them. But then Ezekiel spoke.
Furthermore, the word of the Lord came to me, saying, “Son of man, behold, the house of Israel is saying, ‘The vision that he sees is for many years from now, and he prophesies of times far off.’ Therefore, say to them, ‘This is what the Lord God says: “None of My words will be delayed any longer. Whatever word I speak will be performed,” declares the Lord God. Ezekiel 12:26-28 (NASB)
Do you hear His voice today? And if we do hear His voice, do we fully understand what “the year of the Lord” means? Oh, yes, for those of us who know Christ we look for justice with joyous anticipation We know we are covered by the blood of Christ. Therefore no fear. However, we must remember were it not for grace, what that justice would mean for you and I as well. Are we not to be filled a deep sorrow for those who are so blinded and lost? This sorrow sprinkled with the anticipatory joy of seeing our Savior face to face?
Zero doubt God will Accomplish All He has planned
All the way back to Isaiah 41, God said He would raise up Cyrus to lead a great nation. And in Jeremiah 25 He said.
‘Then it will be when seventy years are completed, I will punish the king of Babylon and that nation,’ declares the Lord, ‘for their wrongdoing, and the land of the Chaldeans; and I will make it an everlasting desolation. I will bring upon that land all My words which I have pronounced against it, all that is written in this book which Jeremiah has prophesied against all the nations. (For many nations and great kings will make slaves of them, even them; and I will repay them according to their deeds and according to the work of their hands.)’” Jeremiah 25: 12-14 (NASB).
And then it happened just as God said through Isaiah and Jeremiah.
Now in the first year of Cyrus king of Persia, in order to fulfill the word of the Lord by the mouth of Jeremiah, the Lord stirred up the spirit of Cyrus king of Persia, so that he sent a proclamation throughout his kingdom, and also put it in writing, saying:
“This is what Cyrus king of Persia says: ‘The Lord, the God of heaven, has given me all the kingdoms of the earth, and He has appointed me to rebuild for Him a house in Jerusalem, which is in Judah. Whoever there is among you of all His people, may his God be with him! Go up to Jerusalem which is in Judah and rebuild the house of the Lord, the God of Israel; He is the God who is in Jerusalem. EZRA 1:1-3 (NASB)
Leaving Zero Doubt God will Accomplish all He has planned. His Word is Truth
Now when the builders had laid the foundation of the temple of the Lord, the priests stood in their apparel with trumpets, and the Levites, the sons of Asaph, with cymbals, to praise the Lord according to the directions of King David of Israel. And they sang, praising and giving thanks to the Lord, saying, “For He is good, for His favor is upon Israel forever.” EZRA 3:10-11 (NASB)
Many people of the surrounding land wrote to King Darius asking him to stop the building of the temple. They also wrote years later to King Aheuresis (Xerxes) and then Artaxerxes suggesting that the Israelites needed to stop all building in Jerusalem. You see, there will always be opposition, but we must hold fast with faith, knowing God has a perfect plan. Nothing and no one can thwart His plan. Ultimately, this is the letter sent back to the opposition from the King of Persia.
Zero Doubt God Will Accomplish All He Proclaims-regardless of opposition
Leave that work on the house of God alone; let the governor of the Jews and the elders of the Jews rebuild that house of God on its site. Furthermore, I issue a decree concerning what you are to do for these elders of Judah in the rebuilding of that house of God: the full cost is to be paid to those people from the royal treasury out of the taxes of the provinces beyond the Euphrates River, and that without interruption.
And whatever is needed, bulls, rams, and lambs for burnt offerings to the God of heaven, and wheat, salt, wine, and anointing oil, as the priests in Jerusalem order, it is to be given to them daily without fail, so that they may offer acceptable sacrifices to the God of heaven and pray for the lives of the king and his sons.
Furthermore, the King of Persia issued a decree to protect them as well.
And I issued a decree that any person who violates this decree, a timber shall be pulled out of his house, and he shall be impaled on it; His house shall be turned into a refuse heap on account of this. May the God who has caused His name to dwell there overthrow any king or people who attempts to change it, so as to destroy that house of God in Jerusalem. I, Darius, have issued this decree; it is to be carried out with all diligence!” EZRA 6:7-12 NASB
And later King Artaxerxes provided Nehemiah with all he needed to build the wall. How amazing! God provided all! He moved the heart of a pagan King to be the supplier.
“I myself, King Artaxerxes, issue a decree to all the treasurers who are in the provinces beyond the Euphrates River, that whatever Ezra the priest, the scribe of the Law of the God of heaven, may require of you, it shall be done diligently, up to a hundred talents of silver, a hundred kors of wheat, a hundred baths of wine, a hundred baths of anointing oil, and salt as needed. Whatever is commanded by the God of heaven, it shall be done with zeal for the house of the God of heaven, so that there will not be wrath against the kingdom of the king and his sons. We also inform you that it is not allowed to impose tax, tribute, or toll on any of the priests, Levites, singers, doorkeepers, temple servants, or other servants of this house of God. Ezra 7:21-24 (NASB)
Furthermore, King Artaxerxes spoke to Ezra.
25 “And you, Ezra, according to the wisdom of your God which is in your hand, appoint magistrates and judges so that they may judge all the people who are in the province beyond the Euphrates River, that is, all those who know the laws of your God; and you may teach anyone who is ignorant of them. 26 And whoever does not comply with the Law of your God and the law of the king, judgment is to be executed upon him strictly, whether for death or for banishment, or for confiscation of property or for imprisonment.”
For this Ezra proclaimed:
Blessed be the Lord, the God of our fathers, who has put such a thing as this in the king’s heart, to glorify the house of the Lord which is in Jerusalem and has extended favor to me before the king and his counselors and before all the king’s mighty officials. So, I was strengthened according to the hand of the Lord my God that was upon me, and I gathered leading men from Israel to go up with me. Ezra 7:27-28 (NASB)
And still, the people sinned.
But what can we say? Is this not what we also do? And so, God addresses them through Malachi.
“‘A son honors his father, and a servant his master. Then if I am a father, where is My honor? And if I am a master, where is My respect?’ says the Lord of armies to you, the priests who despise My name! But you say, ‘How have we despised Your name?’ You are presenting defiled food upon My altar. But you say, ‘How have we defiled You?’ In that you say, ‘The table of the Lord is to be despised.’ And when you present a blind animal for sacrifice, is it not evil? Or when you present a lame or sick animal, is it not evil? …
“If only there were one among you who would shut the gates, so that you would not kindle fire on My altar for nothing! I am not pleased with you,” says the Lord of armies, “nor will I accept an offering from your hand. For from the rising of the sun even to its setting, My name shall be great among the nations, and in every place frankincense is going to be offered to My name, and a grain offering that is pure; for My name shall be great among the nations,” says the Lord of armies. … You also say, ‘See, how tiresome it is!’ And you view it as trivial,” says the Lord of armies, Malachi 1: 5-8, 10-11, 13 NASB
Do We Trivialize God?
We think it is ok to give God our leftovers-time, energy, and worship. Then we trivialize the very thought of Him. All going through the motions without the devotion of our hearts.
You have wearied the Lord with your words. Yet you say, “How have we wearied Him?” In that you say, “Everyone who does evil is good in the sight of the Lord, and He delights in them,” or, “Where is the God of justice?” Malachi 2:17 NASB
Do we not hear the same being taught?
Malachi was the last messenger, the last prophet until John the Baptist was born. There would be a gap of 400 years. Perhaps this is why his message must be one of a harsh rebuke against sin, a call to repentance and plea for the dedication of the people.
Would anyone rob God? Yet you are robbing Me! But you say, ‘How have we robbed You?’ In tithes and offerings. You are cursed with a curse, for you are robbing Me, the entire nation of you! Bring the whole tithe into the storehouse, so that there may be food in My house, and put Me to the test now in this,” says the Lord of armies, “if I do not open for you the windows of heaven and pour out for you a blessing until it overflows. Then I will rebuke the devourer for you, so that it will not destroy the fruit of your ground; nor will the vine in the field prove fruitless to you,” says the Lord of armies. “All the nations will call you blessed, for you will be a delightful land,” says the Lord of armies. Malachi 3: 8-12 NASB
Zero Doubt God Will Accomplish All He Has Planned-Judgement and Blessing
Beyond those who failed to follow His word, there are many of us who merely grumble and moan about our lives. We lack an attitude of gratitude to surround our hearts. Expecting God to do more than the everything He has done.
“Your words have been arrogant against Me,” says the Lord. “Yet you say, ‘What have we spoken against You?’ You have said, ‘It is pointless to serve God; and what benefit is it for us that we have done what He required, and that we have walked in mourning before the Lord of armies? So now we call the arrogant blessed; not only are the doers of wickedness built up, but they also put God to the test and escape punishment.’” Malachi 3: 13-15 (NASB)
Yet some did remember God with honor as they spoke among themselves.
Then those who feared the Lord spoke to one another, and the Lord listened attentively and heard it, and a book of remembrance was written before Him for those who fear the Lord and esteem His name. Malachi 3: 16 (NASB)
How sweet is that. As we join here together, God is listening attentively. His reply?
“And they will be Mine,” says the Lord of armies, “on the day that I prepare My own possession, and I will have compassion for them just as a man has compassion for his own son who serves him.” So, you will again distinguish between the righteous and the wicked, between one who serves God and one who does not serve Him. Malachi 3: 17-18 (NASB)
Zero Doubt, God Will Accomplish All that He has Proclaimed
“Behold, I am sending My messenger, and he will clear a way before Me. And the Lord, whom you are seeking, will suddenly come to His temple; and the messenger of the covenant, in whom you delight, behold, He is coming,” says the Lord of armies. “But who can endure the day of His coming? And who can stand when He appears? For He is like a refiner’s fire, and like launderer’s soap. Malachi 3:1-2 (NASB).
John the Baptist was the messenger preparing the way for Jesus. Little did they understand, He came first to be the Sacrificial lamb. Only He could pay the penalty for all our sin. Yet, they rejected Him. But He will come again, this time to sit upon His throne in Jerusalem. For now, how precious the thought, He tarries that we might be saved and we might go into the fields so white, ready for harvest.
When He returns at the end of the tribulation and even all that occurs during the tribulation will be that necessary to purify the nation of Israel and the earth as a whole.
And He will sit as a smelter and purifier of silver, and He will purify the sons of Levi and refine them like gold and silver, so that they may present to the Lord offerings in righteousness. Then the offering of Judah and Jerusalem will be pleasing to the Lord as in the days of old, and as in former years. Malachi 3: 3-4 (NASB)
On that Day: Zero Doubt God Will
“Then I will come near to you for judgment; and I will be a swift witness against the sorcerers, the adulterers, against those who swear falsely, those who oppress the wage earner in his wages or the widow or the orphan, and those who turn away the stranger from justice and do not fear Me,” says the Lord of armies. “For I, the Lord, do not change; therefore you, the sons of Jacob, have not come to an end. Malachi 3:5-6 (NASB)
Zero Doubt, God will accomplish all He has Promised
How do we know? Because He has always since before the earth was formed. Therefore, we know, He will complete all He foretold to Malachi as well.
“For behold, the day is coming, burning like a furnace; and all the arrogant and every evildoer will be chaff; and the day that is coming will set them ablaze,” says the Lord of armies, “so that it will leave them neither root nor branches. But for you who fear My name, the sun of righteousness will rise with healing in its wings; and you will go forth and frolic: like calves from the stall. 3 And you will crush the wicked underfoot, for they will be ashes under the soles of your feet on the day [c]that I am preparing,” says the Lord of armies. Malachi 4:1-3 (NASB)
So, we too must keep our eyes focused on Him.
“Remember the Law of Moses My servant, the statutes and ordinances which I commanded him in Horeb for all Israel. “Behold, I am going to send you Elijah the prophet before the coming of the great and terrible day of the Lord. He will turn the hearts of the fathers back to their children and the hearts of the children to their fathers, so that I will not come and strike the land with complete destruction.” Malachi 4:4-6 (NASB)
And because of all that—
we must labor to spread His word while we can. His Word is Truth.
As Jesus passed by, He saw a man who had been blind from birth. And His disciples asked Him, “Rabbi, who sinned, this man or his parents, that he would be born blind?” Jesus answered, “It was neither that this man sinned, nor his parents; but it was so that the works of God might be displayed in him. We must carry out the works of Him who sent Me as long as it is day; night is coming, when no one can work. While I am in the world, I am the Light of the world.” John 9:1-5 (NASB)
It is He who indwells us with the Holy Spirit, so we must labor while we are in this world.
DO YOU KNOW CHRIST AS YOUR SAVIOR AND LORD? He is our only Hope in Life and Death! Our Joy is found in Him.
Therefore if you don’t know Jesus Christ as your Savior and Lord: I urge you today. Go to my page titled How to Be Saved by clicking on this link. There is nothing more important than this; because He is the way, the truth and the life. Therefore, I urge you to seek Him today.
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©Effie Darlene Barba, 2024
Disclosure of Material Connection: I have not received any compensation for writing this post. Furthermore, I have no material connection to the brands, products, or services that I have mentioned except for my own books. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.
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