Malachi 3:11-12
I will rebuke the devourer for you, so that it will not destroy the fruits of your soil, and your vine in the field shall not fail to bear, says the Lord of hosts. Then all nations will call you blessed, for you will be a land of delight, says the Lord of hosts.
Subject: God's Blessing - Tithing
In this section of Malachi God is rebuking the nation for this failure to trust Him in their giving and tithing. God instituted the tithe so that they would give and support the Levi tribe, who was responsible for the worship of the nation. The Levi tribe would live off the tithe. The worship of the animals were the source of food for the tribe of Levi since they had no land or other work. Yet, God also instituted the tithe to demonstrate to the nation that He would bless them if they would be obedient. They failed to trust Him for this aspect. In the above verses we see that God is telling them, had they tithed, this is the promise they would have experienced. The verse states that God will "rebuke the devourer" and, thus, protect their work and bless their giving. The fact that God says He will "rebuke" this "devourer" means there is a "devourer." We don't live our lives in this thought pattern. Satan is the ultimate devourer. Our trusting God in faith in our giving is not so that we will be blessed by God, but so that in our giving we learn to trust God and to honor God. The blessing that comes from trusting God and honoring God (through obedience) is benefited by His blessing ... the Devourer is stopped!! For that we can rejoice.
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