When God Says Please

The Please word in Malachi 3:10

Bring the whole tithe to the storehouse, so that there will be food in my house, and test me please in this,” says Yahweh of hosts, “if I will not open for you the windows of heaven, and pour forth for you an overflowing blessing. ^[LEB]

Bring the whole tithe into the storehouse, so that there may be food in My house, and put Me to the test now in this,” says the Lord of armies, “if I do not open for you the windows of heaven and pour out for you a blessing until it overflows. ^[NASB]

The original Hebrew word used is na (na')

Strong's #	4994
Definition	I (we) pray, now
Part of Speech	Interjection
	NAS Exhaustive Concordance
Word Origin	a primitive particle of entreaty or exhortation
Usage in NASB and occurrence	Ah (2), beg (1), beseech (1), come (3), implore (1), may (1), now (159), O (2), O may (1), Oh (10), Oh may (2), please (181), please* (1), pray (16)
	https://biblehub.com/hebrew/4994.htm https://www.biblestudytools.com/lexicons/hebrew/nas/na.html

The Hebrew word na occurred 403 times in the Old Testament. In the book of Malachi, it appeared only once, in chapter 3 verse 10.

In KJV online, the word 'now' was not tagged for Strong's.

Bring ye all the tithes into the storehouse, that there may be meat in mine house, and prove me now herewith, saith the Lord of hosts, if I will not open you the windows of heaven, and pour you out a blessing, that there shall not be room enough to receive it. ^[KJV]

In the Biblegateway website, out of 54 Bible versions used, only 2 versions used the translation 'please.'

Progressive Truth Revelation

Malachi 3:10 is the only place in the Bible where God asked us to test Him. Elsewhere, it's sinful and life-threatening to challenge God.

But Jesus answered, “It also says, ‘Do not put the Lord your God to the test.’” ^{[Luke 4:12 BSB]}

In this passage, satan was tempting Jesus. In his third try, he dared the Lord to jump off, and he quoted another verse to back his challenge. But Jesus replied by quoting the passage from Deuteronomy 6:16, which in turn was a narrative by Moses reminding them of their rebellion and consequential punishment.

It's interesting to note that the book of Malachi was the last revelation of God in the Old Testament - before the Lord went silent for 400 years. The next divine encounter to be documented in Scripture was the coming of John the Baptizer and Christ Jesus.

God said through Malachi, "Test me…" Then, 400 years later, He said, "Don't test me…"

Obviously, there's more to these words than just usage and semantics.

When God asked us to test Him, to try Him, and to prove Him, it was in the area of Tithes and Offerings. The Lord of Heaven and Earth wants us to experience His Benevolent Hand of provision through the paying of His tithes and the sowing of our seed.

And there's more.

God says please: Test Me please in this!

Circumstances have challenged our beliefs: Does tithing work during this pandemic?

Lack and scarcity have stained us to be cynics: Is it proper to tithe and give offerings just when my personal finances is breaking?!

The answer is still a yes and a yes, because our Provider is not confined by the circumstances of the pandemic, or the limitations of the world economy. He is still King of kings and Lord of lords.

But just how will God provide?

Now to Him who is able to do so much more than all we ask or imagine, according to His power that is at work within us… ^{[Ephesians 3:20 BSB]}

God is able. He can do so much more.

If we can ask and pray for it, if it's according to God's will, then He will do it. He will bless us.

If we can imagine how, just how, then God can do better, so much better. His ways are higher than our ways, His thoughts are better than our thoughts, His methodology is superior to ours. He is Sovereign. He can turn things around.

And so, to the God who says, "Please…"

…to Him be the glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, forever and ever. Amen. ^{[Ephesians 3:21 BSB]}

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