According to Malachi, how did the people claim they had robbed God?

The assertion that the people robbed God stems from the book of Malachi, specifically in Malachi 3:8-10. In this passage, God, through the prophet Malachi, questions the people about their failure to bring their tithes and offerings to the temple. This failure to provide their proper offerings is directly linked to the idea of robbery, as it indicates a lack of faithfulness and obedience to God's commands regarding stewardship of their resources. When the people withhold their tithes, they are essentially denying God what is due to Him as an act of worship and gratitude.

Additionally, in Malachi's context, the lack of offerings is connected to the broader themes of spiritual apathy and neglecting the covenant relationship with God. However, the specific charge of robbing God is explicitly tied to the failure to give offerings, making this choice clearly aligned with the scriptural teaching presented in Malachi.

Other aspects like breaking the covenant, not teaching their children, or worshiping foreign gods also reflect disobedience but do not directly answer the question regarding how they claimed to have robbed God as outlined in Malachi. The focus on offerings provides a precise interpretation of the verse and illustrates a critical aspect of the people's relationship with God