10 And not only this, but when Rebecca also had conceived by one man, even by our father Isaac 11 (for the children not yet being born, nor having done any good or evil, that the purpose of God according to election might stand, not of works but of Him who calls), 12 it was said to her, “The older shall serve the younger.” 13 As it is written, “Jacob I have loved, but Esau I have hated.” ~ Romans 9:10-13
In v.10-11 of today's passage we read, "10 And not only this, but when Rebecca also had conceived by one man, even by our father Isaac 11 (for the children not yet being born, nor having done any good or evil, that the purpose of God according to election might stand, not of works but of Him who calls."
Rebecca and Isaac had twin sons who had the same pedigree. One didn't have an advantage over the other. Before they were able to make choices, either good or bad, in order that God's purpose in election might stand, it is obvious that God chose Jacob. We have difficulty with the doctrine of election because we think that we play no role in our salvation or that God is arbitrary. We either believe or not and this is what determines our eternity. Based on Paul's argument in Romans 1, all men have the chance to believe.
Now, it is clear in the Scriptures that man is dead in his sins, and we would have never responded to God unless He enabled us to believe. And, we can rest in the fact that God is good and just and He always does the right thing. And, it is a well established doctrine that God holds all humanity responsible to believe in the Lord Jesus for salvation.
In v.12-13 of today's passage we read, "12 it was said to her, 'The older shall serve the younger.' 13 As it is written, 'Jacob I have loved, but Esau I have hated.'"
Now, it is clear in the Scriptures that man is dead in his sins, and we would have never responded to God unless He enabled us to believe. And, we can rest in the fact that God is good and just and He always does the right thing. And, it is a well established doctrine that God holds all humanity responsible to believe in the Lord Jesus for salvation.
In v.12-13 of today's passage we read, "12 it was said to her, 'The older shall serve the younger.' 13 As it is written, 'Jacob I have loved, but Esau I have hated.'"
Between Esau and Jacob, Jacob was acceptable by God, even though he was a schemer. Esau, on the other hand, was much more admirable when he was growing up than his brother. But through the course of their lives, Jacob was the one who was brought to faith, and Esau was not. God uses this as a symbol of how He works.
The word "hated" must not be understood as though God actually disliked Esau and would have nothing to do with him and treated him with contempt. According to Genesis 36, God blessed Esau and made of him a great nation. He gave him promises which He fulfilled. As with anyone humble enough to come to faith in the God of the Bible, God set his heart on Jacob and welcomed him into a relationship with Himself. And, since Jacob believed, he like many in the scriptures forever stands for one who placed his faith in the God of the Bible. Esau, on the other hand, forever stands as one who did not place his faith in the God of the Bible.
The final confrontation of Jacob and Esau that is recorded in the Bible was when the Lord Jesus stood before Herod the king. Herod was a descendant of Esau, and, the Lord Jesus was a descendant of Jacob. There, standing face-to-face, were Jacob and Esau all over again! Herod had nothing but contempt for the King of the Jews, and the Lord Jesus did not open his mouth in the presence of Herod.
What Paul is teaching us here is that God has a sovereign, elective principle that he carries out on his terms. Here are those terms: Salvation is never based on natural advantages. Never. What we are by nature does not enter into the picture of whether we are going to be redeemed or not. Also, salvation is always based on a promise that God gives. This is why we are exhorted in the Scriptures to believe the promises of God. It includes, in some mysterious way, our necessity to be confronted with those promises, and to give a willing and voluntary submission to them. Lastly, we never earn God's favor. Never! Before Jacob and Esau demonstrated either good or bad behavior, God chose Jacob.
Now, it is normal to struggle with the idea that this makes it appear that God is unfair. But, He is God, He knows all things in the instantaneous now. And, our flesh or the evil desires within us reacts to all of this. We must remember that God has skills, understanding and wisdom that we do not. He is greater than we are. He knows more than we, He is all together good, and He knows what He is doing. And, everything He does will always be consistent with His character. And, due to our limited understanding of all of this, we choose to trust Him. In eternity we will understand this, and in time we will always struggle to see it from eternities view.
The ways of God is a great mystery to us due to our limitations. But, the take away here for us is: we are not saved because we sought God; we are saved because God sought us. This chapter began with the question of whether or not God’s plans had failed because some of the Jewish people had rejected the Lord Jesus. Paul responds by saying that not only has God’s purposes for the Jewish people not failed but God is doing something even greater by choosing those who are not Jewish to be part of the promise as well. God’s purposes will always stand. And, God continues to pursue His people, call them to Himself, and miraculously save them and use them for His glory.
And, this gives us the reassurance that nothing will ever thwart His will, causing us to conclude that we can trust Him with everything.
