The Daily Nugget
Hi All
There is nothing better than “digging” into scripture and today we look at the story ofJacob and Esau which is told in Genesis 25-27. Jacob and Esau who were twin brothers in the Bible, sons of Isaac and Rebekah. The story of Jacob and Esau revolves around their rivalry and deception, particularly concerning the birthright and Isaac's blessing. Esau, the elder, was a hunter, while Jacob was more of a shepherd and scholar. God prophesied that the older would serve the younger. We all know that our God is a God of love so when we read of God “hating” Esau but “loving” Jacob, it can be a bit confusing and begs the question how can a God of “love” “hate” someone? Our teaching today will hopefully help us answer this question.
Be Blessed and Encouraged
Jacob and Esau
9 For this is the word of promise: "AT THIS TIME I WILL COME, AND SARAH SHALL HAVE A SON." 10 And not only this, but there was Rebekah also, when she had conceived twins by one man, our father Isaac; 11 for though the twins were not yet born and had not done anything good or bad, so that God's purpose according to His choice would stand, not because of works but because of Him who calls, 12 it was said to her, "THE OLDER WILL SERVE THE YOUNGER." 13 Just as it is written, "JACOB I LOVED, BUT ESAU I HATED."
(Romans 9:9-13)
What does it mean in the Bible that “God Hated Someone” ?To help us understand we look at Romans 9:12-13 using the example of Jacob and Esau, this passage also references both Genesis 25:23 & Malachi1:2-3
The LORD said to her, "Two nations are in your womb; And two peoples will be separated from your body; And one people shall be stronger than the other; And the older shall serve the younger."
(Genesis 25:23)
2 "I have loved you," says the LORD. But you say, "How have you loved us?" "Was not Esau Jacob's brother?" declares the LORD. "Yet I have loved Jacob; 3 but I have hated Esau, and I have made his mountains a desolation and appointed his inheritance for the jackals of the wilderness."
(Malachi 1:2-3,)
The context that “Hated” is used in the passage is not an emotion but a Hebrew expression which means “ less preferred”, the point Paul is making is that Esau was not hated by God, but that he was not God's preferred choice between the brothers. It is interesting that the statement regarding Esau is not mentioned in Genesis, but by the prophet Malachi 1500 years later.Malachi is looking back over the lives of the brothers and sees how they became two nations and tells of how God chose one nation Jacob/Israel(I have loved) to protect and bless and left the other Esau/Edom(I have hated) for judgement. The reason Israel was chosen was not because of any attributes, but purely because of God's gracious will.
There is a lot to think about in this teaching, but let's finish with the opinion of the famous preacher Charles Hadden Spurgeon. After one of his sermons in which he preached from Romans 9:12-13, he was approached by one of his congregation who said they couldn’t understand why God “hated” Esau to which Spurgeon replied:-
“This is not what troubles me, what troubles me he said was not why God would “hate” Esau, but why He chose to love Jacob.The greatest miracle is that God chooses to love any of us sinners, not that He prefers to bless some more than others.”