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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] |
Subject: Why does God love Jacob but reject Esau? |
Bible Note: Yellow Jasmine, DarcyA is right. Actual emotional hatred of Esau is not the point here. Paul in this verse (Romans 9:13) is quoting from Malachi 1:2,3. Malachi, who wrote his words some 1,500 years after the death of Jacob and Esau, is reflecting on the lives of these two men and by extension on the nations of Israel and Edom that were the descendents of Jacob and Esau respectively. God chose the one nation, Israel, for divine blessing and protection but not the other. Why? We don't have all the answers. If everyone knew everything there is to know about the mind of God, everyone would understand the mysteries of God's election, and all debates on God's election and man's free will would cease. But no one does. God is a holy and righteous God, and He is also sovereign. Most of us would have little problem grappling with the attributes of the holiness and righteousness of God, but when it comes to His absolute sovereignty, are we truly prepared to humble ourselves in submission to His sovereignty enough to accept the shock that He is the potter and we are the clay? (cf. Romans 9:23). |