At the end of the Old Testament, the book of Malachi stands as the last prophetic message to God’s people, the "Divine drumroll" before the gift of Jesus Christ's birth and the Gospels. In Malachi, we see the Israelites, the Hebrew people having returned to the promised land after about seventy years of living in exile holding on to what they remembered of blessing, but not of living as God's people.

They return "home" and nothing of their lifestyle is holy or honoring or grateful to the Lord. This whole final book is a conversation or argument between the Israelites and God, and God delivers His last words in response and then goes silent. The kicker is that His response is not at all what we would expect.

God doesn't meet the Israelites with condemnation or stern correction. God shows His people incredible compassion and love. So odd was His love, they have a hard time receiving it and their hearts remain hardened. However, God's last word promises the Messiah the people had been hoping for for generations and it's in these final words we get to see Jesus as God's answer to our unfaithful rebellion still today.

The Audio Bible Studies series provides a unique audio learning experience. Unlike a traditional audiobook's direct narration of a book's text, this audio Bible study includes high-quality, live audio sessions from the author that cover important Bible-based topics. These sessions will reflect the ambiance of the unique recording locations, immersing the listener into the teaching. While not required for the audio experience, these studies are designed to partner with the coordinating study guide, sold separately.