We all wish Paul had not taken this Jacob & Esau thing a step further, but he did. “Jacob I loved. Esau I hated.” Deal with it. Why bring the prophet Malachi into this? (Malachi 1:2) The prophet begins his book with this very statement about his preference for Jacob, who became Israel, which became God’s mighty nation of the same name. Esau, on the other hand, became Edom, and was eventually extinguished. Why? The reason ultimately is known only to God. Not about human characteristics. Yes, Esau blew his chances at a blessing and a birthright. But Jacob’s character was not squeaky clean either. We’re talking about the purposes of God. Before either of them had shown their hand.

Not convinced? Paul is not finished. It gets more intense than Jacob and Esau. He could tell people were already getting nervous with his illustration, though, and he affirms that there is no injustice with God! Our minds say there is. Paul says, and we know, there is not. To prove his point, he quotes God Himself:

“I will have mercy on whom I have mercy, and I will have compassion on whom I have compassion.” It’s My business, says God. Make no conclusions about what I should or should not do.

Verse 16 sounds a lot like the verse in John 1 we quoted above: “It does not depend on the person who wills it, or the person who tries hard, but on God Who has mercy.” God saves sinners, not righteous people, remember? He saves Gentile outcasts, Jewish aristocrats and even Pharisees. He chooses the worst and confounds the best. That’s just how it is.

Pharaoh is next up. To that world ruler God gives this piece of information: “For this purpose I raised you up [chose you!], to demonstrate My power in you.”

Paul’s summation (not mine): God has mercy on whomever He desires, and likewise He hardens the ones He wants to harden. Don’t like that? Why? Well, how can He blame me for something He chose, after all?

Answer: There is no answer. Keep your mouth closed. You’re talking back to God. You’re criticizing His ways, which you obviously do not comprehend. You’re a created thing, like a cup in a potter’s hand. He can make you into a chalice for a King or a spittoon for a leper if He wants. And you must say nothing in response! (I paraphrase Paul.)

But that sounds mean! That’s not fair! By whose standards? By My own, says God. Yours don’t count. Only mine count.

Let it all sink in. God is God. He is good. Sin is against the good God. Men have chosen, with their free will, sin. They are all doomed to be cursed, because that’s the rules. The soul that sins, dies, an eternal death. But, because of His grace and mercy, He chooses a few out. A relative few. Actually many, many, people, but in comparison to Earth’s populations over the millennia, a few. And you are one of them. Christ lives in you. You feel the promise of eternity in your heart. You serve God while around you is the Devil’s self-serving crowd. You are different. You are saved.

Now, isn’t grace suddenly amazing? You actually were chosen! You’re on the team. You’ll be in Heaven. Choosing suddenly isn’t such a bad thing after all.