It’s the last book of the Old Testament. In fact, it’s the last chapter…and the final verse before the ‘400 years of silence’ began when, to our knowledge, God spoke no more prophetic words to His people until the time of the Messiah’s birth. 400 years is a long time! That’s longer than our country has even been around and just think of how much history has taken place in our nation’s lifetime!

The Book of Malachi is especially known for its instruction about tithing and the Lord’s rich blessings on those who are obedient in giving. It also references God’s mercy and the Day of Judgement. This last verse in the Old Testament reminds us that there is so much more to come in God’s story. Even though there were roughly four centuries when God did not speak to His people as He had up until then, He left them this final verse that tells them, and us, to look ahead, with hope.

Nestled into that final note in Malachi 4:6 (NIV) are these words, “He will turn the hearts of the parents to the children and the hearts of the children to their parents.” If ever you needed a word from the Lord to pray over an estranged relationship, whether it is someone else’s, or your own, the Father’s heart for our relationships is restoration. May these final words God spoke before the long silence be the first words we speak, in prayer, over the long silence we’ve endured with the ones He gave us to love.