Readings:
Malachi 1-2
Tobit 4-5

Malachi 1-2

The name Malachi means “my messenger” in Hebrew so we aren’t sure if that is the name or title of the prophet who wrote this book. The dating is also a little fuzzy, but any believe it to be written between the end of the exile period and the time when the book of Ezra was written, with some even believing that Ezra wrote this book under a pseudonym.

It’s aim it to remind those who are going to return, and those that have already returned, that the exile was a result of their sins individually and as a nation. So this is a warning to not fall back into that trap of idolatry and immoral behavior.

This includes the abandonment of wives that was somewhat common in that era, less common that today for sure, but regardless it wasn’t the plan of God for a man to simply write a letter of divorce and leave his wife. Jesus specifically addresses this in the gospels.

Tobit 4-5

Tobit calls his son to him so that he can give some advice before he dies. He believes in God and knows he answers prayers of the righteous, so he’s sure his prayer will be answered, and he is right but it won’t be answered how he thinks. He prayed for death as an end to his suffering, and that’s why he calls his son and he gives him some really good advice and instructions. If we all were to follow Tobit’s instructions here we’d be better off for it.

He’s prepping his son for the journey to go collect his savings he left deposited in another city, and also for life without him. Part of that prepping was to find a companion for the journey. The city they are traveling to is a good distance away and roads were dangerous back then. He finds a man but it’s actually an angel in disguise.

This may have been who paul was talking about when he said “Do not neglect to show hospitality to strangers, for thereby some have entertained angels unawares.”-Hebrews 13:2

The angel Raphael was sent by God when Tobit had prayed for a deliverance from this life and his suffering, and now he’ll accompany Tobias on his mission.

Tomorrow’s Readings:
Malachi 3-4
Tobit 6-7