Chris Katulka: Thank you for joining us for the Friends of Israel Today. I'm Chris Katulka, your host and teacher. Welcome in. Hey, have you been to our website yet, foiradio.org? Because if you haven't, that's where you can connect with us. We have nearly a decade of content, biblical content, on that site with insightful teaching and various interview guests talking all about Israel and the Jewish people from a biblical worldview. Again, that's foiradio.org. Be sure to visit us there. We're continuing our series on Malachi, the last prophet of the Old Testament to speak to the Israelites before the coming of Jesus. And so Malachi is speaking into the hearts of the Israelites because really as we've been going through this series, we've seen a spiritual apathy that had come over them and they forgot to give the best to God. Why? Because they neglected to see that the best was yet to come. They had completely forgotten. And so this whole series is called Give Your Best to God Because the Best is Yet to Come, and that's exactly what we want to talk about. Because now God is going to begin to show that yes, the best is yet to come for Israel and for us as followers of the Lord Jesus. It's going to be a great time of opening God's Word together, but before we get there, let's see what's happening in the news. 

Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez has called for Israel to be removed from the Eurovision Song Contest, comparing its participation in the contest to Russia's expulsion after invading Ukraine. He criticized what he called a “double standard,” arguing that Israel should not be allowed to participate while Russia remains banned from the European contest. Sánchez ended his remarks by expressing solidarity with both Ukraine and Palestinian people who are enduring wars and bombings, he said. Well, here's my take. Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez's call to expel Israel from Eurovision echoes Spain's own historical expulsion of the Jews in 1492 when an entire people were cast out based on identity and politics. Just as the Spanish monarchy once scapegoated the Jewish people to appease public sentiment and consolidate power, today's rhetoric risks repeating that injustice under the guise of moral posturing. Targeting Israel in a cultural arena mirrors the same exclusionary mindset that fueled centuries of Jewish persecution in Spain.

Chris Katulka: As we turn to Malachi chapter 3, we continue to explore the powerful theme that we have set before us: "Give God the Best Because the Best is Yet to Come." In previous chapters, Malachi confronted Israel's failure to honor God rightly in their worship and daily lives. Malachi’s message has continually highlighted a fundamental truth: the Jewish people had ceased giving God their best because they had lost sight of the promise that the best was still yet to come. 

Now if you didn’t get a chance to listen to the last two installments of our series on the prophet Malachi, I encourage you to visit our website, foiradio.org. There you can listen to our series on Malachi and a decade of biblical teaching about Israel and the Jewish people. Again visit foiradio.org.

Now, in chapter 3, God does something astonishing. In the face of Israel’s paltry sacrifices and half-hearted worship God renews His promise and announces a profound future reality—the arrival of His Messenger and the glorious return of His presence to the Temple.

Malachi begins chapter 3 with a dramatic proclamation: "Behold, I send my messenger, and he will prepare the way before me. And the Lord whom you seek will suddenly come to his temple; and the messenger of the covenant in whom you delight, behold, he is coming, says the LORD of hosts" (Malachi 3:1). These words are striking and very significant. They speak directly to the heart of Israel’s condition—they had grown weary, complacent, and indifferent because they had lost vision of the future glory and divine promises of the Lord.

Israel’s neglect in giving God their best offerings and sacrifices was symptomatic of a deeper spiritual issue. They were disillusioned, discouraged by their difficult circumstances, and spiritually complacent. Malachi addresses their failure to give the best because they had forgotten that God Himself was about to give His best. They had overlooked that God had promised to send the ultimate Messenger, whose arrival would redefine and restore everything.

First, let’s consider the identity of the promised Messenger from Malachi chapter 3. Malachi 3:1 actually points forward prophetically to two distinct figures. Initially, it refers to the messenger who prepares the way—that’s the prophet Elijah. The idea of the preparation for the way of the Lord is also found in Isaiah 40:3. This concept probably comes from an ancient Near East custom of sending messengers ahead of a visiting king to inform local inhabitants of his coming so that they would pave a way for him, to remove all the obstacles for the monarch. 

However, this role, this position, this messenger would be fulfilled centuries later in the person of John the Baptist. John’s ministry was crucial as he prepared the hearts of the people by preaching repentance and turning their attention toward the coming Messiah. He reminded Israel, John the Baptist, that something greater was at hand and urged them to renew their commitment and devotion to God.

Now we’re going to talk more about John the Baptist and his role in Elijah when we talk about Malachi chapter 4 next week. But John was merely a herald. The Messenger who followed him was infinitely greater—this is the second figure that’s seen in Malachi 3:1, the "messenger of the covenant,"  who is that? Well, it’s the Lord Himself. The Lord’s arrival at His temple was not merely symbolic; it represents a divine visitation unparalleled in human history. This Messenger would embody the covenant promises of God, fulfilling them completely and eternally.

It’s significant that God says, “The Lord you are seeking will suddenly come to his temple.” Part of the hopelessness of the Jewish people in Malachi’s day was the fact that the Temple that was rebuilt by Zerubbabel actually never saw the Glory of God… the presence of God… the cloud by day and the fire by night, it never returned to the temple that was built by Zerubbabel. The Holy of Holies… the place of God’s dwelling was just an empty room. God encouraged the rebuilding of the second temple, but unlike the Tabernacle built by Moses and the Temple built by Solomon… Zerubbabel's Second Temple was missing a key component… God’s presence. His Glory.

They waited for God to return as in the days of old, but it never came. The Israelites had lost sight of this reality. Their eyes and hearts were focused on their present difficulties and disappointments. They had forgotten that every sacrifice and act of obedience they offered to God was ultimately rooted in hope—hope that was fulfilled not merely in temporal blessings but in the eternal reality of God’s presence among them.

Malachi asks a sobering question: "But who can endure the day of his coming, and who can stand when he appears?" (Malachi 3:2). The Messenger’s arrival would not only be glorious; it would be refining and purifying. Malachi continues, "For he is like a refiner's fire and like fullers' soap. He will sit as a refiner and purifier of silver,  he will purify the sons of Levi and refine them like gold and silver, and they will bring offerings in righteousness to the LORD" (Malachi 3:2-3).

God’s intent in sending the Messenger is clear: to purify His people, restoring them to a condition of holiness and righteousness. The Israelites’ half-hearted worship, their offerings of blemished sacrifices, and their neglect of God's commands revealed hearts in need of serious refining. God’s response is not to abandon them but rather to refine them. He desires that their worship be genuine, their offerings sincere, and their devotion wholehearted. But because of Israel’s sin, this refinement would come through judgment.

Israel’s sacrifices had become meaningless rituals. They were no longer offerings of gratitude or expressions of devotion; they were merely religious obligations performed without thought or reverence. The problem wasn’t just the quality of the animals or offerings—it was the quality of their hearts. The external neglect simply mirrored the internal spiritual apathy that had consumed them.

Yet, even in their spiritual malaise, God lovingly calls Israel back to Himself. He invites them to remember the promise of His Messenger and the significance of His return. God’s presence was not just an ancient memory but an imminent reality that would transform everything. His presence would sanctify, it would purify, and it would renew them from within, making true worship possible again.

God also challenges Israel directly about their withholdings of tithes and offerings. "Will man rob God? Yet you are robbing me, in your tithes and contributions." That’s Malachi 3:8. This withholding was not merely a financial issue—it reflected their spiritual condition. They were failing to give God their best because they doubted that God would fulfill His promises. They failed to recognize that by withholding their very best from God, they were essentially robbing themselves of the greater blessings God had promised. The tithe that’s mentioned here is the 10% that was to be given to the Temple, the word tithe is an old english word that means a 10th or 10%.

God graciously offers a remedy: "Bring the full tithe into the storehouse...and thereby put me to the test...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). 

God desires their obedience—not because He needs their offerings, but because their obedience is evidence of their trust and hope in Him. God was reminding Israel that their best days were yet ahead. The windows of heaven awaited opening, ready to pour out an unparalleled blessing upon those hearts that were fully devoted to Him.

Look, one of the major difficulties the Israelites dealt with was the fact that they had no rain, and their crops were dying on the vine. This just goes to show that Malachi knew the Law of God; he read the Bible. Why is there a drought in the land? Because God told the Israelites in Deut. 28, that if they abandoned the commands of God, he would make the skies like bronze, and the ground as dry as sand. There would be a drought. Israel’s disobedience is leading to their demise, just as God described in the Law. See, Malachi knew the Bible.

The Israelites had become short-sighted. They were consumed by their immediate hardships and limitations. But God’s perspective was eternal and expansive. He was reminding Israel that their sacrifices, obedience, and devotion were not wasted; rather, they were investments into an assured future. Every act of genuine devotion brought them closer to experiencing the fullness of God's promises.

Israel’s hope was ultimately anchored in God's presence. The great and glorious promise was not merely material blessings but God Himself coming to dwell among them again. Malachi’s message was an urgent plea to restore their hope in God's future promises, and thereby restore their commitment to give Him their best.

Today, Malachi’s message challenges us as well. Like Israel, we can easily lose sight of God’s promises when we face trials, uncertainties, or routine disappointments. Our worship can become mundane, our offerings half-hearted, our devotion shallow. Yet, Malachi calls us to look again with fresh eyes at the promises of God—especially the greatest promise of all: Jesus Christ, the Messenger of the Covenant who has already come, whose presence lives within us through the Holy Spirit, and whose return we eagerly await.

We give God our best today, not out of obligation, but out of hopeful anticipation. The refining and purifying work of Christ continually prepares us for eternity. Just as Israel was called to live in anticipation of the Messenger’s arrival, we live in anticipation of Christ’s return. Our sacrifices, obedience, and worship are meaningful, not because of their inherent value, but because they reflect an unwavering hope in God’s ultimate promise.

The best is yet to come. God's Messenger, Jesus Christ, has already brought us the greatest gift—His saving presence. And He promises to return again in glory, to dwell among us eternally. Let us renew our devotion, restore our reverence, and give God our absolute best, fully confident in the knowledge that our greatest hope is secure. Our best days are ahead, guaranteed by the sure and steadfast promises of our faithful God. Now, listen, when we return, we're going to actually look at a specific verse where Malachi gives a great hope and promise to Israel and the Jewish people. Stick around.

Steve Conover: Chris, we've been blessed to add some new radio stations recently and I'm sure we have some who don't know much about The Friends of Israel Gospel Ministry.

Chris Katulka: Yeah, Steve. For years The Friends of Israel has been a trusted source for those seeking to understand God's heart for the Jewish people. We're excited to invite new listeners into our growing community. We're offering a free digital download of our popular booklet, Whose Land is it Anyway? This booklet explores the historical, legal, and biblical claims to the land of Israel, providing clarity on a complex and often misunderstood topic.

Steve Conover: It's a great resource. If you've ever wondered about the ongoing struggle in the Middle East and want to be able to understand and defend why God has given the Holy Land to the Jewish people, this is the resource for you. We want to equip you to understand and support the Jewish people, not based on mere opinion, but based on God's trustworthy and unchanging Word. To get your free digital copy of Whose Land is it Anyway?, visit foiradio.org. That's foiradio.org.

Chris Katulka: Okay, so we’ve been journeying through the prophet Malachi. As I was reading through this final prophet of the Old Testament I couldn’t help but notice Malachi 3:6–7.

Malachi 3:6–7 is a powerful reminder of God’s steadfast character and His unwavering commitment to His people. “Since I, the LORD, do not go back on my promises, you, sons of Jacob, have not perished.” 

Despite generations of rebellion and spiritual neglect, Israel remains preserved—not because of their faithfulness, but because of God’s. The verse continues, “From the days of your ancestors you have ignored my commandments and have not kept them. Return to me, and I will return to you,” says the LORD of Heaven’s Armies. Here, we see both a rebuke and an invitation: a rebuke for a long history of disobedience, and an invitation into restored fellowship, built on the unchanging promises of God.

This passage anchors the entire message of Malachi in hope. God doesn’t abandon His people even when they fail Him. His covenant with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob was not based on their performance but on God’s unchanging nature. He says, “I do not go back on my promises.” In fact, in the Hebrew it says, “I don’t change.” This is the heartbeat of redemptive history. It is the reason the “sons of Jacob” have not been consumed; which means there are still Jewish people here today. It's the same reason why there is always a way back. God’s call to “return to Me” is both a confrontation and a comfort. His arms are open, and His faithfulness endures.

In the theme of our series, Give God the Best Because the Best is Yet to Come, this verse serves as a hinge between Israel’s failure and God’s future. Yes, Israel has withheld their best from God—half-hearted worship, as Malachi said, corrupt sacrifices, and spiritual apathy—but God had not withheld His best from them. His promise remained. The best was still on the horizon: the coming of the Lord, the refining fire of justice, and the restoration of His people. 

Malachi’s audience needed to reawaken to the goodness of God’s covenant and give Him their best—not out of obligation, but in anticipation of what’s to come.

For us today, the call is the same. God has not changed. His mercy still stands. If we return to Him, He will return to us. His promises are still in effect, and His best—through Jesus Christ—is yet to come in fullness. Let’s give Him our best, because the faithful God we serve has already promised us His.

Steve Conover: Israel on the verge of becoming a state, a teenaged Holocaust survivor arrives on her shores alone. His name is Zvi Kalisher. Little did he know his search for a new life in the Holy Land would lead him to the Messiah. Zvi, enthusiastic to share his faith, engaged others in spiritual conversations, many of which can be found in our magazine, Israel My Glory. While Zvi is now in the presence of His Savior, his collected writings from well over 50 years of ministry continue to encourage believers worldwide. Now, Apples of Gold, a dramatic reading from the life of Zvi.

Mike Kellogg: Many times I go to the ultra-Orthodox yeshivas and engage the people in long discussions, trying to bring them back to the Bible. They, in turn, always show me the many books from their Halacha—literature written by rabbis. They try to convince me that only through the Halacha can I be a “good Jew.”

I always listen politely, but then I tell them that this is made up of fictitious stories.

On a recent visit, an elderly man approached me. He shouted, “Zvi! Do you not know me?” But I did not recognize him. He said, “I know you very well. We spent a lot of time together—good times and hard times.”

I told him, “It is so obvious on the outside I have not changed much because you recognized me so quickly. But I have changed on the inside. I can see you have changed on the outside, with your clothing, long beard, and side curls, but you still have the same heart of stone because you are here in this place.”

Finally he identified himself as a man with whom I had served in the army in 1948. Now here we were, meeting again after 48 years.

He said, “Zvi, I have heard about you a lot over the years, but I never believed what I heard.  Now I know all of those reports were true. How could you leave the faith of our fathers and preach something that is against our rabbis and traditions?”

I said, “I do not wish to speak against anyone. Rather, I am here to remind you to whom you belong. As it is written in Malachi 3:7, ‘From the days of your fathers you have gone away from My ordinances. Return to Me, and I will return to you.’

“The Bible does not mention your rabbis. In it you will read only about what the Lord has done for us. I could not recognize you because you have changed your face and your style of dress, but you have not changed your heart. You still have a heart of stone. Though I have not changed my outward appearance, God has given me a heart of flesh. I have not changed His laws or commands, as you have done.”

My old friend then asked, “How can you say such things?”

I replied, “God Himself has said it in the Bible. Here, in your house of prayer, you have hundreds of books, but you do not have one Bible. I have come here to warn you about the false teachings you are following. I pray I am not too late. This is my obligation before God and all people. Ezekiel 3:17 says, ‘Son of man, I have made you a watchman for the house of Israel; therefore, hear a word from My mouth, and give them warning from Me.’”

By the end of our conversation, one said, “You are very interesting, and we would welcome you back to speak with us again.”

I was grateful to the Lord for the good conclusion to our meeting. I pray God will water the seeds sown and eventually grant the harvest of these souls to eternal life.

Chris Katulka: Hey, thanks for joining us for today's episode of The Friends of Israel Today. Don't forget to get your free digital download of our popular booklet, Whose Land is it Anyway? on our website, foiradio.org. Now next week we’re going to be finishing up our 4-part series where Malachi reminds us to give God the best because the best is yet to come. As we already mentioned, our website is foiradio.org. Again, that’s foiradio.org. Be sure to visit us there. Our mailing address is FOI Radio PO Box 914, Bellmawr, New Jersey 08099. Again that’s FOI Radio PO Box 914, Bellmawr, New Jersey 08099. You can call our listener line. That’s 888-343-6940. Again, that's 888-343-6940. Today's program was engineered by Bob Beebe. Edited by Jeremy Strong, who also composed and performs our theme music. Lisa Small is our executive producer. Sarah Fern is our associate producer. The late Mike Kellogg read Apples of Gold. Steve Conover is our executive director here at The Friends of Israel Gospel Ministry. And I'm Chris Katulka, your host and teacher. The Friends of Israel Today is a production of The Friends of Israel Gospel Ministry. Passion for God's Word. Compassion for God's Chosen People.