And the LORD said to her, “Two nations are in your womb, and two peoples will be separated from your inward parts, and one will be stronger than the other and the older will serve the younger.” Genesis 25:23.
This is the genealogy of Isaac, the son of Abraham (Genesis 25:19). When he was forty years old, he took Rebekah as his wife (Genesis 25:20). Isaac pleaded with the LORD because she was barren. The LORD granted his plea, and she conceived (Genesis 25:21).
In Rebekah’s womb, the two children struggled. This concerned her, so she inquired of the LORD during one of His visits to them (Genesis 25:22). He informed her that two nations would come from her womb, and the older would serve the younger (Genesis 25:23).
When her time came to deliver, Esau was born first. He was red and very hairy when he came out; thus, his name is rendered into English as Hairy. His brother came out with his hand clasped to his brother’s heel, earning him the name Jacob, the usurper (Genesis 25:24–26).
In Romans chapter 9, Paul uses this event to show that salvation is based on God’s choice, not man’s desire or how man runs (Romans 9:16). Not everyone from the line of Abraham is part of Israel (Romans 9:6–7). The children of the promise are counted as the seed, not the children of the flesh (Romans 9:8). Out of Sarah came the son of promise (Romans 9:9). And out of Rebekah came Israel (Romans 9:10–12). God loved Jacob, but He was indifferent to Esau (Romans 9:13). This does not make the Lord unrighteous, for He is free to show mercy to whom He determines (Romans 9:14). Mercy is not obtained by man’s desires, nor by man’s work (Romans 9:16).
Although the boys had not done good or wrong, so that according to election, the purpose of God should remain, not by works, but by Him who calls, God chose the younger over the older (Romans 9:11). Although some false teachers attempt to use this passage to imply the saved were pre-elected before the foundations of the world, this is not predestination. Instead, Paul is using this event to show us today that salvation is not earned through man’s desires or efforts. It is only through faith in God’s words.
When it comes to God’s call and election of those who are in the Church, the apostle Peter explains in 2 Peter 1:10 that we are elected when we are called. “Wherefore, even more, brethren, you be diligent to do your firm calling even election, for the one doing these things will never at any time stumble.” Those in the Church have been given all things pertaining to life and godliness in Christ (2 Peter 1:3–4).
For this reason, they are to be diligent to add to their faith virtue, and to virtue, knowledge, and to knowledge self-control, and to self-control patience, and to patience godliness, and to godliness brotherly fondness, and to brotherly fondness, love. The one who does these things will never be barren in the full experiential knowledge of Christ (2 Peter 1:5–8).
God’s election and His calling are directly linked together in 2 Peter 1:10. When He calls, He chooses. His choice was not made before the foundations of the world. Through the salvation He offers to man, God is not showing His sovereign determination as He did with the angels. He determined which of them would not fall (1 Timothy 5:21). God desires that all men should be saved and come to a full experiential knowledge of the truth (1 Timothy 2:4). The grace from God that brings salvation has appeared unto all men (Titus 2:11). Not by works of righteousness which they have done, but by the kindness and mercy of God (Titus 3:4–5).
God, indeed, chooses those whom He will save because no one seeks God today (Romans 3:11). However, God did not determine that certain ones would perish, but that all have the opportunity to change their minds (2 Peter 3:9).
To bring salvation today, God uses the gospel of the Christ. This gospel has an inherent ability to save (Romans 1:16). Therefore, all who base their salvation on the fact that Christ died on behalf of our sins and was raised on the third day will be saved (1 Corinthians 15:1–4). This call is from hearing those who bring the message of peace (Romans 10:17). Those who reject this message will perish in their unbelief. Not because God predetermined they would go to hell, but because of their own hardness of heart (Acts 28:27).
Therefore, let us preach the word in season and out of season. Convince, rebuke, exhort with all long-suffering and doctrine. For the time is here when men do not endure sound teaching. They go after their own desires and heap up teachers to appease their itching ears. They turn from the truth, proclaiming another Jesus and a different gospel (2 Timothy 4:2–5).
