Why did god hate Esau?

[Openly Curious]

I understand COMPLETELY why God would hate Esau! Esau was an irreverent man, a rebel against God, and a scofflaw toward God's commands. So God hating Esau is not a struggle at all for me to comprehend.

What I CAN'T figure out for the life of me is WHY GOD LOVED JACOB!!!!

because the elder shall serve the younger. Jesus was our elder brother who came to this world through the lineage of Jacob Israel the chosen nation. It was through Jesus giving up His own will and leaving the riches of glory and taking on the form of a servant that we can be his children. If you will remember God changed Jacob's name to Israel.

[Matthitjah]

Grace to you,

What I CAN'T figure out for the life of me is WHY GOD LOVED JACOB!!!!

Exactly brother exactly.

If you figure that out, you will know why He loves you and me.

I think it was Pastor Paul who said, "Miserable wretch that I am......"

Peace,

Dave

[st. Worm]

quote:

What I CAN'T figure out for the life of me is WHY GOD LOVED JACOB!!!!

SW:

You are asking about the mystery of election. No one knows why some are saved and others are left to perish in their sins.

And God does not only hate Esau, God hates all workers of inequity (Psalm 5 I believe) and that includes all of us. He loves us for the sake of Christ yet hates us as sinners. This is another biblical truth, just like election, that we cannot fathom. The modern idea that God only hates the sin and not the sinner has no real biblical support.

[Guest jckduboise]

I understand COMPLETELY why God would hate Esau! Esau was an irreverent man, a rebel against God, and a scofflaw toward God's commands. So God hating Esau is not a struggle at all for me to comprehend.

What I CAN'T figure out for the life of me is WHY GOD LOVED JACOB!!!!

uh, because Jacob was not those things. Jacob was humble. God loves the humble

[Leonard]

I understand COMPLETELY why God would hate Esau! Esau was an irreverent man, a rebel against God, and a scofflaw toward God's commands. So God hating Esau is not a struggle at all for me to comprehend.

What I CAN'T figure out for the life of me is WHY GOD LOVED JACOB!!!!

uh, because Jacob was not those things. Jacob was humble. God loves the humble

I beg your pardon! Jacob was a scoundral! A liar, a thief, a deceiver; clearly a scofflaw against several of God's standards........ That said, I guess he's proof there is hope for me too!

[EricH]

I don't believe God's love of Jacob and hatred of Esau had anything to do with any qualities that either of them possessed. Paul said this:

for though the twins were not yet born, and had not done anything good or bad, in order that God's purpose according to His choice might stand, not because of works, but because of Him who calls, it was said to her, "The older will serve the younger." Just as it is written, "Jacob I loved, but Esau I hated."

Romans 9:11-13 NASB

It was not about them, it was about God. According to Paul it was not about that. It was in order that God's purposes in each one of them be fulfilled

[Guest jckduboise]

I understand COMPLETELY why God would hate Esau! Esau was an irreverent man, a rebel against God, and a scofflaw toward God's commands. So God hating Esau is not a struggle at all for me to comprehend.

What I CAN'T figure out for the life of me is WHY GOD LOVED JACOB!!!!

uh, because Jacob was not those things. Jacob was humble. God loves the humble

I beg your pardon! Jacob was a scoundral! A liar, a thief, a deceiver; clearly a scofflaw against several of God's standards........ That said, I guess he's proof there is hope for me too!

oops, sorry Leonard, wrote this early this morning before coffee..got the guys mixed up....but hey perhaps you do sitll

[Openly Curious]

I don't believe God's love of Jacob and hatred of Esau had anything to do with any qualities that either of them possessed. Paul said this:

for though the twins were not yet born, and had not done anything good or bad, in order that God's purpose according to His choice might stand, not because of works, but because of Him who calls, it was said to her, "The older will serve the younger." Just as it is written, "Jacob I loved, but Esau I hated."

Romans 9:11-13 NASB

It was not about them, it was about God. According to Paul it was not about that. It was in order that God's purposes in each one of them be fulfilled

Yes and our birthright and inheritance in God came through Jesus Christ our elder brother.

OC

[Christian]

*bump*

[Mark777]

The original statement made by God was that the older would serve the younger. The statement about loving one and hating the other comes from Malachi chapter 1 and is connected to their rejection and evilness. The original statement was a prophecy of who would have the blessing of God over the other - Malachi shows the history. I know some connect this with salvation - in Romans - but I think it is referrring to God making choices of a different kind. Who it was that would fulfill God's purpose in history.

Mark