Malachi 3:13-15 NLT

[13] “You have said terrible things about me,” says the LORD. “But you say, ‘What do you mean? What have we said against you?’ [14] “You have said, ‘What’s the use of serving God? What have we gained by obeying his commands or by trying to show the LORD of Heaven’s Armies that we are sorry for our sins? [15] From now on we will call the arrogant blessed. For those who do evil get rich, and those who dare God to punish them suffer no harm.'”

God now chides Israel for saying terrible things about Him.  Israel wants to know what He means.  God then reveals their sin of not believing in His justice against evil and His blessings for the good.

Israel has asked, “Why should we serve God by obeying His commands?  Why should we be sorry when we sin?”  Their excuse for asking these questions is that they see evil people becoming rich and those who are arrogant and disrespectful toward God seemingly getting away without being punished by God.

Those who question God’s ways and doubt His sovereignty are just as prevalent today as they were in Malachi’s time.  In both times in history the doubters and questioners are looking at the temporal, short termed appearances and fail to trust in God’s future eternal judgment of the evil and reward of the righteous.   They are sinning by saying God isn’t really going to do what He says He will do.  

Please keep in mind that just because God doesn’t deal with evil like we think He should does not negate His sovereignty, nor does it negate the promised future of the evil ones when they stand before God and have to give an account of their lives.  God has made it clear in both the Old and New Testaments that He will punish those who rebel against Him with eternal separation from Him.  He has also made it clear that those who rely on His mercy and grace will be in His presence forever.

We can have faith in what God has said to us.  We do not need to doubt that God will do what He says He will do.