How did God reveal Himself to Israel before Malachi?
From Abraham until Malachi, God revealed Himself to the nation of Israel through the prophets and through various other means. After Malachi completed the Old Testament, 400 years elapsed before God made His next move with Israel, a period commonly called the 400 years of silence.
Les explains that from Abraham until Malachi, God had been revealing Himself to the nation of Israel through the prophets and through various other means. But after the book of Malachi was written, completing the Old Testament, 400 years elapsed until God made His next move with the nation of Israel. Les notes that between the book of Malachi and the appearance of the angel announcing the birth of John the Baptist and to Joseph and Mary is 400 years. He calls this the 400 years of silence, a long time and an interesting historical fact.