Perhaps the most despised verse
in the entire Bible. By Frank Hall. Romans 9 verse
13. Jacob I loved, but Esau I hated. This is perhaps the most despised
verse in the entire Bible. There are only two kinds of people
in this world, Jacob's and Esau's. These two men represent the entire
human race. Jacob represents God's elect,
and Esau represents the reprobate. Jacob is loved by God, and Esau
is hated by God. Contrary to popular religious
opinion, God does not love all people. God's love is sovereign
and free. God's love for Jacob did not
depend on Jacob. God loved Jacob simply because
he chose to love Jacob, not because he saw something in Jacob that
merited his love. In fact, Jacob proved himself
to be completely unworthy of God's love, as do all whom God
loves. God's love depends on God, not
Jacob. Jacob can't earn God's love,
and Jacob cannot lose God's love, because it does not depend on
him. The love of God is completely sovereign and free. God gives
and withholds his love as he sees fit. God's love is discriminating
love. Love is always discriminating.
By definition, love is never common to all. Jacob was set
apart by God's love, and being set apart by God's love, he had
God's special favor and the affection of God's heart. God's love is
always particular and distinguishing. He does not love all people,
he only loves his Jacobs. God's love for Jacob and hatred
for Esau are according to his eternal purpose, not according
to their works. 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,
just as it is written, Jacob I loved, but Esau I hated. What then shall we say, is God
unjust? Not at all. For he says to Moses,
I will have mercy on whom I have mercy, and I will have compassion
on whom I have compassion. It does not, therefore, depend
on man's desire or effort, but on God's mercy. Jacob was elected
to salvation before he was born, and Esau was rejected by God
before he was born, according to God's eternal purpose. Because
Jacob was loved by God, God sent his son into this world to redeem
him from his sins. Christ died for Jacob, not for
Esau. Jacob I loved, but Esau I hated.