STRONG IN VULNERABILITY (MALACHI 1)

God expressed His love for Isreal, and also His anger and disappointment at the failure of the priests to do what is right before Him. REFLECTION The theme for our reflection is strong in vulnerability. Vulnerability is the state of being exposed to the possibility of being attacked or harmed, either physically or emotionally. It…

Jean-Paul Agidi

Nov 25, 2021

2–3 minutes

God expressed His love for Isreal, and also His anger and disappointment at the failure of the priests to do what is right before Him.

REFLECTION

The theme for our reflection is strong in vulnerability. Vulnerability is the state of being exposed to the possibility of being attacked or harmed, either physically or emotionally. It is interesting to note, that the fundamental Christian virtue that makes most people vulnerable to abuse or attack is love.

Some of your greatest hurt in life will not come from your enemies but from the people you love and trust. We usually become vulnerable in the hands of the people we love and care about. In Malachi 1:2-5 we see God assuring Isreal of His love and protection yet Isreal upon all the love God had shown them asks “How have you loved us? (Malachi 1:2). God answered ” Is it not Esau Jacob’s brother? Yet I have loved Jacob but Esau I have hated”(Malachi 1:2-3). In other words, God’s love for Israel is unparalleled and solely for Israel

God became angry because Israel failed to reciprocate His love and care for them. They continued sin and to add insult to injury, the Priest who knew the Word of God and ought to have awakened the conscience of the people through Worship and prayer were themselves corrupt and misled the people therefore God said to them “A son honours his father, and a servant his master. If then I am a father, where is my honour? And if I am a master, where is my fear? says the LORD of hosts to you” (Malachi 1:6)

It appeared God was vulnerable because His love for His people was taken for granted and betrayed. The tone of Prophet Malachi was one of emotional vulnerability. Unlike many of us, when we become vulnerable and emotionally abused or attacked we break down. We become pessimistic and filled with anger and thoughts of revenge. Out of vulnerability and pain, we pray against those who have hurt us. We sometimes wish them evil for betraying our love and and taking us for granted. We experience vulnerability in employer-employee, husband-wife, lecturer-student, pastor-congregant relationships and friendships. My dear friend, When you feel vulnerable be strong for in Joshua 1:9 we are encouraged to “Be strong and courageous. Do not be frightened, and do not be dismayed, for the LORD your God is with you wherever you go.”

The key lesson in today’s reflection is that God was strong in vulnerability and so must we when we become vulnerable. After all the disappointment God experienced from the Israelites and their leaders, He assured them that “For I am a great King, says the LORD of hosts, and my name will be feared among the nations.” (Malachi 1:14). We must love endlessly regardless of the pain or hurt we receive from those we care about for God can make us strong in vulnerability. Shalom

PRAYER

Almighty God, enable us to be strong in our vulnerability so that we can say with Jesus that “Father forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing” Amen (Luke 23:34)