God recognizes imperfection – Haftarah HaGadol

Malachi 3:4-24

This week, Shabbat HaGadol, the Shabbat before Passover, we read from Malachi about redemption of all kinds. Embedded in this message is an interesting line about God’s view of the world and God’s compassion for the human condition.

Let’s expound on verses 13-18: (original in Italics)

You have spoken hard words against Me — said the Lord.

Often, we think God is not listening to us, and doesn’t hear our questions about the unfairness in the world. Malachi is telling us this is not the case.

But you ask, "What have we been saying among ourselves against You?"

God hears us. What is interesting about this verse is that the people think that it might be better to play dumb, to play tam, if you will in this season of Passover, and pretend that they had not spoken out against God. This is empowering because God is about to tell us that we are heard. God is telling us that we are in a relationship where we can be honest. God is also telling us that we sometimes act like a kid that spilled something and pretends not to have done it.

You have said, "It is useless to serve God. What have we gained by keeping His charge and walking in abject awe of the Lord of Hosts? And so, we account the arrogant happy: they have indeed done evil and endured; they have indeed dared God and escaped."

This is a valid complaint. We see all around us people who win despite being unethical and people who prosper from corruption. It’s not fair and we demand from God some explanation. The world around us is filled with injustice. It’s sometimes enough to cause a crisis of faith. It’s sometimes enough to question either God’s existence or the efficacy of worship. This seems to be a very modern concern. We assume that ancient peoples believed with complete faith in God. Here, Malachi is telling us that there was questioning. Moreover, God seems to be ok with the question and recognizes where the question is coming from.

In this vein have those who revere the Lord been talking to one another. The Lord has heard and noted it, and a scroll of remembrance has been written at His behest concerning those who revere the Lord and esteem His name.

Similarly to the story of Passover, God hears the cries of the people of Israel and responds. Also similar, God sends a deliverer. In this case, Malachi prophesies the return of Elijah as the harbinger of better times.

And on the day that I am preparing, said the Lord of Hosts, they shall be My treasured possession; I will be tender toward them as a man is tender toward a son who ministers to him. And you shall come to see the difference between the righteous and the wicked, between him who has served the Lord and him who has not served Him.

God has taken stock of his people. God knows who the good ones are and who the bad.

What might speak to us in the modern condition, when we so often feel the absence of God, is the fact that this passage doesn’t make it sound like God will come and punish the wicked tomorrow. There is a recognition that God is not always acting in the way that we want.

I imagine the Israelites in Egypt, enslaved and wondering where their God was. I imagine them asking these questions as well. The Egyptians don’t pray the right way, and look what they get. They get all the riches and a kingdom and a king and we’re slaves. Where is our God?

Without going too far to the “God is always with you” line, I think it is important to say that the question where is God is not something that we should be afraid of asking, particularly when we read about all the wonderful and awesome acts that God did for us as we were leaving Egypt.

The Seder, after all, is a time to ask questions.

Shabbat Shalom and Chag Sameach!