God’s Choice
In Romans 9, Paul is discussing the doctrine of election. More specifically, in the verses we’ll be looking at today, he is refuting the idea that God is unjust for redeeming some of those “from Israel” (Christ’s disciples) but not all.
But it is not as though the word of God has failed. For not all who are descended from Israel belong to Israel, and not all are children of Abraham because they are his offspring, but “Through Isaac shall your offspring be named.” This means that it is not the children of the flesh who are the children of God, but the children of the promise are counted as offspring. For this is what the promise said: “About this time next year I will return, and Sarah shall have a son.” And not only so, but also when Rebekah had conceived children by one man, our forefather Isaac, though they were not yet born and had done nothing either good or bad—in order that God’s purpose of election might continue, not because of works but because of him who calls— she was told, “The older will serve the younger.” As it is written, “Jacob I loved, but Esau I hated.”
Romans 9:6-13
Anyone who has read through the story of descendants from Abraham to Jacob knows there was no end to sibling rivalry and family conflict. God told Abraham that his offspring would be blessed, but then he had Ishmael. While God does pronounce some blessing on Ishmael as well, he would not inherit the promises given to Abraham.
“Okay”, some may say, “but the promise was for his descendants through Sarah and not Hagar!” Yet Paul continues along the line. Both Jacob and Esau were born to Rebekah by Isaac. Yet, both would not inherit the promises! Furthermore, Jacob is chosen as the heir despite not being the natural heir and before he could have done anything of value to deserve the blessing more than Esau.
Throughout the line of Abraham down to Israel, we see multiple occasions where the promises given to a patriarch would be passed down through one child and not another. The excuse of lineage may work for Isaac (having a different mother), but not for his children. Not even the arguments of natural inheritance (for “the older will serve the younger”) or merit work.
Did Esau show contempt for his birthright? Absolutely. However, it’s not like Jacob was a paragon of virtue in order to warrant receiving it. Even while obtaining the blessing, he lies to his own father many times. God used the failings of both men to achieve his intended purpose, which was stated before either man was even born.
Chosen In Love
At the end of this section, we see a quotation from Malachi.
“I have loved you,” says the Lord. But you say, “How have you loved us?” “Is not Esau Jacob’s brother?” declares the Lord. “Yet I have loved Jacob but Esau I have hated. I have laid waste his hill country and left his heritage to jackals of the desert.” If Edom says, “We are shattered but we will rebuild the ruins,” the Lord of hosts says, “They may build, but I will tear down, and they will be called ‘the wicked country,’ and ‘the people with whom the Lord is angry forever.’”
Malachi 1:2-4
Malachi was to prophecy to an Israel who had been restored from captivity and yet had used the opportunity for still more idolatry and wickedness. They had expected to receive endless blessings after their return and the rebuilding of the temple, and yet they experienced droughts and poverty. His message was for a people who’s attitude is well characterized by the question “How have you loved us?” introducing these verses.
They were a people who believed themselves entitled to more. God reminds Israel that, though Edom is their brother, he has been laid waste while God’s judgements against Israel’s evil have not made a full end of them. Despite these two peoples both being offspring of Isaac and both being wicked, God had chosen to preserve the children of Jacob.
Ancestry Saves Nobody
Before Paul, John the Baptist warned his audience against the idea of presuming that salvation would come to anyone upon the basis of their parentage.
But when he saw many of the Pharisees and Sadducees coming to his baptism, he said to them, “You brood of vipers! Who warned you to flee from the wrath to come? Bear fruit in keeping with repentance. And do not presume to say to yourselves, ‘We have Abraham as our father,’ for I tell you, God is able from these stones to raise up children for Abraham. Even now the axe is laid to the root of the trees. Every tree therefore that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire.
Matthew 3:7-10
As we’ve already explored, being a son of Abraham (or Isaac or Israel) should not lead anyone to presume upon God’s favor. His favor is his choice and nothing about our ancestry, status, or behavior entitles us to it.
Jesus Saves
If we cannot inherit or earn God’s favor than what hope is there? Our hope is entirely in the mercy of God. Every one of us is, by nature, an heir to destruction. Since Adam, man has been born into sin and, left to ourselves, would war against God until death. Yet God has chosen, in his love, to redeem for himself a people through the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus.
For those who are being saved, we cannot point to any merit in ourselves (either genetic or moral). God’s promises are passed on to those whom he has chosen to be heirs. We would all be perishing in our sin but for the mercy of God. We should never think of his love as a sentimentality born from the kindnesses we’ve shown him. We were his enemies.
Instead, we can rejoice that God’s love is his sovereign choice to save us though we do not deserve it.
