Edom is the name given to the descendants of Esau. Malachi is emphasizing the fact that God did not choose Esau or his descendants; therefore, they will not prosper. This further serves as a reminder to the Israelites of God’s promises He made with them, that they would be His treasured possession and see His favor while the Edomites would not be. It isn’t that the Israelites were a perfect people. They disobeyed, doubted, and strayed countless times. The difference between them and the Edomites was God choosing to show them mercy. He allowed them to rebuild, to prosper, to come back from devastation while the Edomites were “always under the wrath of the Lord.”
How does this impact us today? For starters, we can trust what God says. He does not say one thing and do another. His actions are always consistent with his words. In addition, when we say yes to Jesus and follow Him, we know that we are given His mercy and covering. We don’t deserve it, yet He protects, delivers, sustains, and directs us. The enemy may plot to kill, steal, and destroy, but God is always victorious.