Sunday, January 13, 2013

Esau and Jacob


Question- Why did God choose Jacob over Esau?

1. Some believe that by foresight God looked into history and saw how these two boys would turn out and therefore chose Jacob [Romans 9:11-13].
 
We are all condemned and dead and bring nothing to the table for God to choose us.

The choice was made by God by his electing purposes before either boy could do bad or good. His choice was not be their works or actions but by God’s actions.

2. God foreordained his choice not by human merit or works or foreseen works, but by his choice and by the electing grace of him who calls.
 
Every action of God arises out of his eternal purpose (Romans 8:29-30).

Salvation is always on the basis of divine grace which rises out of the eternal purpose of the sovereign God.

3. God chose Jacob because he wanted to choose Jacob. It has nothing to do with favoritism but his free will and unconditional choice!

God did not predestinate Esau and his descendant to hell. Not all Jews are saved and some Edomites can be saved!

 
Question- What does Romans 9:13 mean?

v. 13: “Jacob have I loved put Esau have I hated” This is probably one of the most misinterpreted and twisted verses in the Bible.

We are talking about nations and yet Individuals as well. God loved Israel and hated Esau’s idolatrous descendants.

“Hated” does not mean to love less, but God set his love on Jacob and his descendants in a love relationship and rejected Esau’s line for the promise. Jacob (chosen) and Esau (rejected). 

Turn to Malachi 1:1-4