There is a big difference between knowledge and execution. Knowledge simply means you know what you are supposed to do, while execution means you not only know, but also carry out the action. I was recently reading an excerpt from a book that talked about a minister’s staff retreat. The minister said they were going white water rafting during an annual staff retreat. They got off the bus to find their guide was a woman. I am sure that caused them some issues right off the bat. She began giving them the rules. Number one- hold onto the paddle correctly at all times, number two listen and do what I say, number three sit correctly in the boat. So then she wanted them to repeat it; they were all annoyed because what were they “stupid or something”? So she ask each person if they understood, and one by one they shook their head. Feeling knowledgeable they climbed into the boat.
“When we were barely wet from the splash of the first rapids, pandemonium broke out among us. The roar of the rapids came and I looked around and our team was freaking out. I looked over to my right and saw my friend doing just about everything possible with his paddle but holding it correctly. Then I heard screaming coming from behind me, which meant he was not listening to the guide at all. About that time another friend and I fell off our seats into the bottom of the boat. So now no one was doing what they are suppose to be doing except the guide.
I listened to the guide as she asked me, “Do you understand the rules?” I affirmed yes. She asked everyone else the same question, and one by one we all had the same response. Despite that, we all failed to do what had been asked of us. Despite our understanding of what to do, we didn’t execute what we had committed to do. We had knowledge of what we were suppose to do, but when it came time for application we fell short.”—Blemished Jason Hayes
It is easy to have knowledge, but can be hard to execute. As Christians we have all said we understand what God is asking of us, yet fail to do it. In Malachi it is not a case of little knowledge, but poor execution. It is not a case of God changing, but the people moving away from him. Chapter 2:3 “Because of you I will rebuke your descendants [a]; I will smear on your faces the offal from your festival sacrifices, and you will be carried off with it. 4 And you will know that I have sent you this warning so that my covenant with Levi may continue,” says the Lord Almighty.
Once again the Lord has pretty harsh words. Because the priest knew better, but did not follow through on their commitment he said he would “rebuke their descendants, and smear offal on their faces. He would rebuke their offspring by taking his blessing from them. They would eventually be taken over by the Greeks, and then the Romans during the 400 plus years of silence. As far as the offal it meant he would take the very dung of the animals being sacrificed and smear it on their face. By doing this, the Lord would expose them to great shame for their sins. The judgement would not only come to the priest, but the people as well.
Why is this entire situation happening? Could it have been prevented? Yes. It could have easily been prevented. In verse 8 it says, “you have turned from the way and by your teaching have caused many to stumble….” If only they had taken their knowledge and executed it before the Lord, his blessings would have continued. If only they had followed the rules he laid out – their descendants would have been blessed. “If only” are huge words that contain a lot of regret. I wonder if we have any “if only’s” in our own life?
Are we as a country, a church, a family, an individual hearing only silence from the Lord because we refuse to follow his commandments? Just like in Malachi’s time, God is always present, but at times we do not hear him speak because we don’t truly seek him. God is not silent because he wants to be, but because our actions grieve him so badly. Will we be like the people of Malachi’s day--Will we possession the knowledge, but lack the execution? Will we be left with the words “if only we had………….. or will we be a people that truly repent like the Corinthians?
Paul had sent a pretty serious letter to the Corinthians. But it didn’t just make them sad, it made them turn around.(2 Cor 7:8-11 NLT)" I am no longer sorry that I sent that letter to you, though I was sorry for a time, for I know that it was painful to you for a little while. {9} Now I am glad I sent it, not because it hurt you, but because the pain caused you to have remorse and change your ways. It was the kind of sorrow God wants his people to have, so you were not harmed by us in any way. {10} For God can use sorrow in our lives to help us turn away from sin and seek salvation. We will never regret that kind of sorrow. But sorrow without repentance is the kind that results in death. {11} Just see what this godly sorrow produced in you! Such earnestness, such concern to clear yourselves, such indignation, such alarm, such longing to see me, such zeal, and such a readiness to punish the wrongdoer. You showed that you have done everything you could to make things right."