"Not only that, but Rebekah's children had one and the same father, our father Isaac. Yet, before the twins were born or had done anything good or bad-in order that God's purpose in election might stand: not by works but by him who calls-she was told, "The older will serve the younger." Just as it is written: "Jacob I loved, but Esau I hated" (Romans 9:10-13)

It would be easy to read a passage of scripture such as this and misinterpret the intent of the author and the context of the passage. Election is a doctrine that many people argue fiercely, stating that God chooses some people for salvation and others for damnation. However the scriptures teach that election is based upon God's foreknowledge of the person and their free will to choose him. Peter said, "...who [elect] have been chosen according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, through the sanctifying work of the Spirit, for obedience to Jesus Christ and sprinkling by his blood..." ( I Peter 1:2 ). We have a choice whether or not we choose God. God's desire is that we choose him and he has made it possible to be reconciled unto himself, but God does not go against or override our freewill in choosing him. Rather in His foreknowledge, he knows who will choose him in this life and so based on that, he also elects and predestines them according to his purpose.

Peter tells us that God is "not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance" ( II Peter 3:9 ). But it was Jesus who said, "For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it. But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few find it" ( Matthew 7:13-14 ). He began this statement by saying "Enter through the narrow gate" ( Matthew 7:13a ), and yet He knew not everyone would. This is because we have a free will in choosing the path for our live. He choose us, but in his grace he lets us choose him, our choice wasn't predetermined for us.

In today's passage, Paul tells us some important truths, he starts out by letting us know that God's election is not based upon performance but by choice. "before the twins were born or had done anything good or bad-in order that God's purpose in election might stand: not by works but by him who calls" ( Romans 9:11-12 ). God foreknew both Jacob and Esau before they were born. He knew the choices they would make and he chose Jacob based on that knowledge. Jacob was called to be the inheritor of the blessing of the firstborn son although it would have been Esau's birthright. Esau had every opportunity to have walked with the Lord, he chose not to. Jacob was called to succeed the promise spoken to Abraham because God foreknew this was the right choice. Esau wasn't destined for destruction by God's choice, his own free will and path in life determined that.

Even in the account in Genesis, it was apparent that both Jacob's and Esau's choices in life would determine their paths. While Rebekah was pregnant with the twins they wrestled inside of her. She inquired of the Lord and he said to her, "Two nations are in your womb, and two peoples from within you will be separated; one people will be stronger than the other, and the older will serve the younger" ( Genesis 25:23 ). He knew that from these two men, two nations would emerge. One would serve the Lord and one would not. Both children came as a result of the promise spoken to Abraham, but only one remain in the promise because they choose God and as a result He chose them.

The two nations that emerged was Israel and Edom. Israel was God's chosen people because they chose to follow God. Edom was a godless race and caused Israel problems through out their entire history together. Paul records in today's passage that it was written, "Jacob I loved, but Esau I hated." ( Romans 9:13 ). This reference refers to Malachi 1 and not the account in Genesis. Meaning that God did not hate Esau the man and predetermine him for destruction, it is referring to the descents of Esau and the nation of Edom. It is showing that God's foreknowledge of Jacob was right when he chose him to be the inheritor of the promise. He was a man of God and taught his descents to be the same, while Esau despised the things of God and taught his descents to do likewise. Both were born out of the promise, but only one remained in it.

So God's purpose in election is to confirm our free will and chose us as we have chosen him. Romans 8 says, "For those God foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the likeness of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brothers" ( Romans 8:29 ). We can rest assured that if we have chosen God, he had foreknowledge of this and he also chose and predestined us to be conformed into his likeness. Today I am bless that God chose me. I am so thankful that he gave me the option to choose him as well. As I enter into this relationship by my own free will I am blessed to know I too belong to the promise spoken to Abraham and continued by Isaac and Jacob. Today, may you also choose God through the precious blood of Jesus and walk in his walks, amen!

Previous: Romans 9:9  Next: Romans 9:14-15

Original article published January 9, 2010.

"For this was how the promise was stated: "At the appointed time I will return, and Sarah will have a son" (Romans 9:9)

What a marvelous thing to operate in God's timing, because it is always perfect. Abraham and Sarah were well beyond the childbearing years when the promise first came to Abraham. He was in his eighties and Sarah in her seventies. At this time Abraham believed what God said and God credited his faith as righteousness, or right standing with him ( Genesis 15:6 ). However, he did not see this promise fulfilled through Isaac for another 13 plus years, but he stood on the promise of the Lord during this time because he knew that God was faithful. It was not until after he was circumcised along with his entire household that the Lord gave him a time frame for the promise. The Bible records that Ishmael was thirteen years old when they were circumcised ( Genesis 17:25 ). Genesis records shortly after, "Then the LORD said, "I will surely return to you about this time next year, and Sarah your wife will have a son." Now Sarah was listening at the entrance to the tent, which was behind him. Abraham and Sarah were already old and well advanced in years, and Sarah was past the age of childbearing" ( Genesis 18:10-11 ). When this happened Abraham was one hundred years old and Sarah was ninety, there was no doubt to anyone who witness this miracle that Isaac was the son promised by God because naturally speaking, conceiving a child was impossible at their age.

What is amazing about God's timing in this situation is that it removes any argument that Abraham had anything to do with it's fulfillment. They never had children and they were advanced in years. God had promised them more descents than they could count and it was only through Him that this came to be ( Genesis 15:5 ). God told Abraham that he was his shield and great reward and that he would not leave him without descends ( Genesis 15:1-5 ). Part of the promise to Abraham was that the Messiah would come through his line, so this promise of descents carried the weight of the world upon it ( Galatians 3:16 ). And fulfillment of it blessed the entire world, just as God said it would.

Isn't it great that God does everything in his timing? At the right time he provide Abraham with an heir and at the right time he introduced the Messiah to the world. Romans 5 says "You see, at just the right time, when we were still powerless, Christ died for the ungodly" ( Romans 5:6 ). We were held captive under sin and the power of darkness and we were completely incapable of saving ourselves, so at the precise moment, Christ came and die for us so that we could be reconciled to the Father. The amazing thing about what Christ did for us, he did when we were enemies of God. We were opposed and against him because of our sin nature, "but God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us" ( Romans 5:8 ). Just like in our example of Abraham, his timing was perfect and no one can argue that what he did for us we could have done for ourselves.

Today, I am so blessed by the promises that have been fulfilled in Christ. I am glad that he did what I could not do and in doing so, reconciled me unto himself. I am thankful for Abraham's faith and obedience and I look forward to seeing God's perfecting timing work in my life in all circumstances. Today, may this revelation of God's faithfulness bless you, amen.

Previous: Romans 9:8  Next: Romans 9:10-13

Original article published January 8, 2010.