Malachi 1:2

I have loved. Endeavoring to awaken His people to a realization of their ingratitude, the Lord asks certain pointed questions. His love had constituted them a nation (Deut. 7:6-9). See p. 1122.

Wherein? This is the first of a series of questions, characteristic of the book of Malachi, which expose the self-justifying attitude of the people of Malachi’s day. These questions may not have been actually voiced by the people, but they tally reflect the inner thinking of the nation. The word “wherein” epitomizes the utter unconcern of the people for spiritual things and sounds the keynote of the book.

Yet I loved. Using this reference to brothers who were twins (Gen. 25:24-26), who thus had the same heredity and environment, the Lord endeavors to make plain to the Jews that the divine favor did not come to Israel because of birth, but because of character. Jacob was the one who, although he made painful mistakes, finally devoted his life to God’s service.