Christian Devotional – March 7, 2026

The Messenger, Day 2

Bait and Switch. Read Malachi 1:8-14.

Many people have heard or seen the idea of a bait and switch. That would be a situation where somebody advertises something that seems amazing and awesome and everybody wants it. People show up to try to purchase or get that item only to find that the store doesn’t have that item anymore. Instead, the only item they have left is something of lesser quality and more inferior that they try to sell you instead.

They baited you to come into their store and then switched what they were going to offer you. God is accusing the people of Israel of doing a bait and switch on him. They baited God by saying, “Oh yes, we’ll offer you a really great sacrifice. We have this incredible animal in our flock that’s perfect and blameless, and we will sacrifice that to you as an offering.”

And then, when it comes time to actually make the offering, they bring a sick or diseased or some other way unclean animal and sacrifice it to God. They tell God that they’re going to do one thing. And yet, they do something lesser, something inferior.

Are we being honest with God about our sacrifices? Are we bringing to God that which is perfect, or are we promising him one thing and bringing him something else. Our sacrifice to God and our offerings to God are to be of the highest quality. Are we being honest and truthful with God? Or are we trying a bait and switch.

Watch the video here: https://youtu.be/HyCHiF2S4Rk