Summer 2024 Meditation

by Jodi Hiser

In the heart of my living room, stretching along the eastern wall of my home, sits my favorite window. Every morning, a floodgate of sunshine filters in through its panes, bringing warmth to the early hours of the day. On cool evenings, my kids like to open its specially-designed panels to feel the breeze that wafts inside. It is by this window that I have situated my favorite chair, with a bookcase behind it, holding all of my precious books. This is my favorite place in the entire house—a place where I can curl up and read, and a place where I can look out and watch the trees that border the forest beyond my backyard. In short, this eastern window gifts me with daily light and blessing.

In the timeline of history, during the life of Malachi the prophet, the people of Israel were not experiencing blessing. They were experiencing the rebuke of the Almighty Covenant God. The Lord had remained faithful to them from generation to generation, and yet the people had chosen to disobey and follow their own pleasures. 

During this time, sin abounded within the community of Israel. Specifically, it was the sin of unbelief that had infected the entire nation like a cancer.

In a loving rebuke, God reminds His people of His own unchangeable character. He had always been, and would always be a faithful, covenant-keeping God.

And so God says in rebuke, “Return to me, and I will return to you.”  At this statement, the people dare to make a rebuttal. They reply, “How shall we return?” (Malachi 3:7)

The people, in their unbelief, had failed to obey the most basic of commands. They had ceased to tithe the offerings of their land and animals to the Lord. The third chapter of Malachi describes their actions as thievery. The people were taking what belonged to God and using it for their own gain.

God replies with a rare challenge: “Bring the full tithe into the storehouse, that there may be food in my house. And thereby put me to the test, says the LORD of hosts, if I will not open the windows of heaven for you and pour down for you a blessing until there is no more need.” (Malachi 3:10)

Some interpretations use this Scripture as a means to encourage a legalistic form of giving. Other interpretations use this text as a recipe for material prosperity.

But this text goes beyond the concepts of giving and getting. These verses herald the character of our loving God, who openly says, “Test me, and see how I will deliver blessing unto your obedience.”

This text isn’t encouraging us to go against God’s command to test Him (Duet 6:16). That kind of “testing” comes from a posture of unbelief. This text refers to a “testing” that comes from a posture of honest uncertainty, with the purpose of growing in faith. God is saying to His people, “Trust me. Watch and see me work. I am who I say I am, and I will do what I say I will do. Watch how I will shine my light upon you and bless you.”

The people of Malachi’s day had been so far removed from God’s light and blessing that they didn’t even know they were sitting in darkness. God had asked them to repent and turn back to Him in order to enjoy the blessing of communion with Him once again. But sadly, the people were too fond of the darkness.

In the promise that God made to open the windows of Heaven, He was demonstrating that the obedience of His Word brings delight. The windows of Heaven brought blessing, and that blessing was the light of a relationship with Him. 

The more we sit in God’s light, the more we crave it. Just like the window in my living-room, our relationship with the Lord and with His Word brings joy and light to our lives. And just as my window allows me to gaze at the beauty outside, so our relationship with the Lord and with His Word reveals the beauty of His majesty and holiness. And just as my favorite window keeps out the harsh weather of every season, so God, in relationship with His people, protects and preserves His children.  

Our relationship with the Lord doesn’t equal material blessing in our lives. Nor does our obedience always mean that life will go our way. But when we walk in a posture of humility and obedience to the Lord, He opens the windows of Heaven to pour out His blessing upon us. We have a generous God who loves to give us the greatest of gifts: the blessing of being God’s people, and knowing Him to be our God.

Questions for Reflection

Do you tend to feel entitled to comfort or material blessing? Do you ever feel like God owes you something for your obedience? 

How do you react when life takes a turn into trial or suffering?

What is one way you can step closer into God’s light in order to enjoy the blessing of relationship with Him?