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NASB | Romans 9:13 Just as it is written, "JACOB I LOVED, BUT ESAU I HATED." |
AMPLIFIED 2015 | Romans 9:13 As it is written and forever remains written, "JACOB I LOVED (chose, protected, blessed), BUT ESAU I HATED (held in disregard compared to Jacob)." [Mal 1:2, 3] |
Bible Question:
I'm not a Christian or read the bible. I was talking to a friend on mine who attends church on a regular bases. All my life I hear and come to believe that God loves everybody. And he tells me God don't love everybody and proceeds to tell me of two brothers who were twins and God didn't love one but loved the other who I understand was the meaner of the two. He told me where it was in the bible but I forgot. Can someone shed some light on this for me. doyle |
Bible Answer: The verse your "friend" was referring to is Romans 9:13, which is a quote from Malachi 1:2-3 These verses refer to the account of Jacob and Esau, found in Genesis 25:19 through Genesis 33. Of course God loves everyone, but not everyone loves God, which is really the point. God has provided us with life, intelligence, a place to live (earth), and a plan to live life to the fullest. But some people do not want to do things the way God has ordained, and are thus "rebelling" against God, to thier own detriment. In the case of Jacob and Esau, God, knowing all things, revealed that Jacob, the youngest, would inherit the rights of the first born, and we learn later that this is due to the lack of value Esau placed on his own birthright. Esau chose to do things his way, without trusting God, and gave up the very blessing that God had in store. When God says, "Jacob I loved, but Esau I hated," He isn't expressing a lack of love for Esau, just that the results of Esau's choices (and the choices of his descendents, which these verses are most likely refrencing more strongly)resulted in bad things. Then, in retrospect, when one compares the treatment afforded Jacob and Esau, one is "loved" and one is "hated." Another way to say it is that one was "blessed" because he trusted God, and one was "cursed" because he chose to trust himself over God. The facts are this: God does love everyone, but some people chose to engage in behaivor that hurts those around them. What is God to do with these people? He could just cut them off from His creation, He has the right, but chooses instead to provide a "second chance." Some people refuse even this. Esau (or more likely the nation that bears his name) would fit in this category. I hope I helped. Shaun |