Israel was hurting economically, sociologically, and spiritually. The questions they hurl at God throughout this book—questions to which he responds through the prophet, Malachi—are dripping with childishness, defensiveness, and rebelliousness (see 1:2, 6, 7; 2:14, 17; 3:7, 8). Blinded by sin and circumstances, the people had lost sight of the character and promises of “the Lord of hosts.” They saw no evidence of his lovefor them nor his faithfulnessto them, and because of that, they were struggling to offer God the worship he demanded, the trust he deserved, and the allegiance he desired. They knew that they were called to serve the Lord but, because of the way life was going, they were starting to wonder if such labour was worth the effort. What were they getting out of the deal? Why work for a God who doesn’t seem to be working for them?