? Cross-References:
- Numbers 23:19 – “God is not man, that he should lie, or a son of man, that he should change his mind.”
- Hebrews 13:8 – “Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever.”
? Historical Context:
- The people of Israel were unfaithful, yet God had not wiped them out because of His covenant with their ancestors. Despite their sin, His mercy preserved them.
? Thought Question:
- How does God’s unchanging nature give us both comfort and accountability?
Malachi 3:7 – “From the days of your fathers you have turned aside from my statutes and have not kept them. Return to me, and I will return to you, says the Lord of hosts. But you say, ‘How shall we return?’”
? Cross-References:
- Zechariah 1:3 – “Return to me, says the Lord of hosts, and I will return to you.”
- James 4:8 – “Draw near to God, and he will draw near to you.”
? Historical Context:
- The Israelites had a history of repeatedly turning away from God’s commands. The question, “How shall we return?” shows their spiritual blindness—they didn’t recognize their sin.
? Thought Question:
- In what ways do people today fail to recognize their need for repentance?