So far in this Salvation for All Series, you would have learnt many things which would have made you shed off the nepotistic, tribalistic, favouritish, bigoted view of and about God. Yet there might be questions unanswered in your hearts: “but… but… but why then did the bible says…” So today’s edition would answer that.
Jacob I loved…
Here is a text which in its imperfect interpretation has successfully presented a notion that God really still do have favourites. Some will even say, “well, today God is changing; unlike before in the old testament when He would just focus on His selected few, them whom God will nurse as the apple of His eyes, and jealously slay any trespasser; whereas He cares less about others not in His caucus”. Well! My answer to that is this: we know one thing that working with caucuses, judging with partiality, we have preaches against it and in fact we would not have known it to be evil but for that same God who taught us. Now, He that teaches that a man should not be partial, would He have been partial? Furthermore, we know that God is unchangeable. If heaven and earth should perish and be changed, He remains says the scriptures. “They shall perish; but thou remainest; and they all shall wax old as doth a garment; And as a vesture shalt thou fold them up, and they shall be changed: but thou art the SAME, and thy years shall not fail. (Hebrews 1:11-12 KJV)”
How then will that God has changed even when heavens and earth have not changed, in just some passage of dispensation (old testament to new)? My stand is that, this we see today is the reality of God! This is whom God had been and will continue to be forever! For ever impartial! For ever loving! For ever good to all!
…yet I loved Jacob, And I hated Esau... (Malachi 1:2-3 KJV)
As it is written, Jacob have I loved, but Esau have I hated. (Romans 9:13 KJV)
Amazingly, this text of Romans 9:13 is used by Paul to preach how that God has no favourite! He just said how his fellow Israelites have somehow been sidelined in God’s plan and that by ignorance and not any sentiment.
“For I could wish that myself were accursed from Christ for my brethren, my kinsmen according to the flesh: Who are Israelites; to whom [pertaineth] the adoption, and the glory, and the covenants, and the giving of the law, and the service [of God], and the promises;” (Romans 9:3-4 KJV)
Aren’t these the “Jacob I loved”? Remember Paul said in chapter 2 of this epistle. “For there is no respect of persons with God.” Romans 2:11
Yet people teach that God loved Jacob, and hated Esau? Simple reading of the pre-text, and post-text will clarify the misunderstanding whether Malachi or Romans. In fact, the Roman explanation is much clearer and gracious.
That is, They which are the children of the flesh, these [are] not the children of God: but the children of the promise are counted for the seed. For this [is] the word of promise, At this time will I come, and Sara shall have a son. And not only [this]; but when Rebecca also had conceived by one, [even] by our father Isaac; (For [the children] being not yet born, neither having done any good or evil, that the purpose of God according to election might stand, not of works, but of him that calleth;) It was said unto her, The elder shall serve the younger. As it is written, Jacob have I loved, but Esau have I hated. (Romans 9:8-13 KJV)
It started by saying the children of the flesh are not the children of God, that is, God’s choice is not “after the flesh”. God’s plan does not consist in deeds good or evil. God does not first interview you, put you to test, to see your strength and then call you. He does not judge you by your evident works. Unlike us humans, He does not base His approval of us, His endorsement of us, on what we do. He does not say “man, are you sure you will be very holy if I call you my own? Hope you won’t disappoint me? Okay, let me let the two of you get to the world first, and I will test the two of you before I know whom I can love of you both”. Simply explaining the concept of God’s election without works… “They which are the CHILDREN OF THE FLESH, these [are] NOT the children of God: but the children of the PROMISE are COUNTED”. What is a promise? A statement of what God has purposed to do. “(For [the children] being NOT YET BORN, neither having done any good or evil, that the purpose of God according to election might stand, not of works, but of him that calleth;)”
He is explaining God’s sovereignty, not partiality. I will have mercy on whom I will have mercy… sovereignty, which has no trace of partiality or favouritism. How?
God is sovereign because He is accountable to none. Whatever He chooses to do, He will not be sued to a court. He will not rebelled against. He will not be sacked. He will not be queried. He is sovereign. Yet God in His “I can have mercy on whoever I want” walked in fairness and truth in that He chose to have mercy on “all flesh”, proving Him as a supreme yet righteous One. You don’t know how much of your praise that God deserves, because you don’t know how unfortunate and unlucky you would have been if He had decided to “elect” whatever few he likes. We live in a world that’s so uncertain and are at extremes. Some are very poor even as some are too rich, their money is their headache. One man’s need has been another’s lack. There seems to be a favouritism if God is the Store Manager of the money house, deciding who should be rich and who should be poor. But hey! Don’t see God by the storm! Don’t judge God by these uncertainties. God can only be seen in His Christ, the Image of the invisible God (Colossians 1:15), the brightness of His glory, Express image of His person (Hebrews 1:3). God is good! Had He not been for His fairness, some men would have so personalised and customised Him to themselves and to their dynasty and you would have been damned forever. Oh! Blessed be the name of the Lord!
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