Jacob Have I Loved, Esau Have I Hated
I am sure most recognize this snippet from Romans 9:13. I am also guessing that the reader is now saying, “I know where he is going with this”, but I may surprise you so please continue.
If you don’t know the story of Jacob and Esau, please take the time and start reading in Genesis 25. You most likely will find yourself in one of these brothers, at least at some point in your life, and some good lessons can be learned from their examples.
It should not be hard to see why God could say, “Esau have I hated”. We are born sinners, and as sinners we do not believe in God and we reject the truth found in Jesus Christ. We are indeed the enemies of God, for we cleave to sin and fail to repent and turn to God in obedience. We lack the faith necessary for salvation in that we trust in self and deny the Savior as the only way, truth, and life.
What we should find amazing is that God could say, “Jacob have I loved”. Study the life of Jacob, and one will find just how amazing it is. We, as Christians, should also look at our own lives in this light. God didn’t look down from heaven and love us because of who and what we were, but “God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.” [Romans 5:8]. It is amazing that a holy and just God could look upon sin and depravity of a rejecting creation and still have enough love to send “his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life” [John 3:16]. Not to mention a despised and rejected Savior, Jesus Christ, which loved fallen man enough, in obedience to the Father, was slain for our offences, yet was raised for our justification [Romans 4:25].
So next time you hear someone say they are too bad for God to love or save, remind them that so were you, and that God loved the world enough to send His Son, Jesus Christ the Savior, that through Him sinners might become saints.
And when pride begins to show its ugly head, boasting that you have achieved, and how much holier you are than that lost sinner, remember where Christ found you; It wasn’t in the holiest of holies dressed in fine linen, but in the mire of depravity and sin “wretched, and miserable, and poor, and blind, and naked”.
1 John 4:19, We love him, because he first loved us.
If you don’t know the story of Jacob and Esau, please take the time and start reading in Genesis 25. You most likely will find yourself in one of these brothers, at least at some point in your life, and some good lessons can be learned from their examples.
It should not be hard to see why God could say, “Esau have I hated”. We are born sinners, and as sinners we do not believe in God and we reject the truth found in Jesus Christ. We are indeed the enemies of God, for we cleave to sin and fail to repent and turn to God in obedience. We lack the faith necessary for salvation in that we trust in self and deny the Savior as the only way, truth, and life.
What we should find amazing is that God could say, “Jacob have I loved”. Study the life of Jacob, and one will find just how amazing it is. We, as Christians, should also look at our own lives in this light. God didn’t look down from heaven and love us because of who and what we were, but “God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.” [Romans 5:8]. It is amazing that a holy and just God could look upon sin and depravity of a rejecting creation and still have enough love to send “his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life” [John 3:16]. Not to mention a despised and rejected Savior, Jesus Christ, which loved fallen man enough, in obedience to the Father, was slain for our offences, yet was raised for our justification [Romans 4:25].
So next time you hear someone say they are too bad for God to love or save, remind them that so were you, and that God loved the world enough to send His Son, Jesus Christ the Savior, that through Him sinners might become saints.
And when pride begins to show its ugly head, boasting that you have achieved, and how much holier you are than that lost sinner, remember where Christ found you; It wasn’t in the holiest of holies dressed in fine linen, but in the mire of depravity and sin “wretched, and miserable, and poor, and blind, and naked”.
1 John 4:19, We love him, because he first loved us.
2 comments:
One of the truly encouraging things to me in the Bible is to see how God over and over used flawed, unworthy people. Because I am one!
Grace and peace,
Tim
God is awesome!!
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