The Lord is awe-inspiring, fearsome, fascinating, intriguing, majestic, and full of splendor: breathtaking! Here is what I saw of him and what came to my heart and mind in Malachi 1:2-3,
"'I have loved you,' says the Lord. 'But you ask, "How have you loved us?" Was not Esau Jacob's brother?' declares the Lord. 'Yet I have loved Jacob, but Esau I have hated, and I have turned his hill country into a wasteland and left his inheritance to the desert jackals.'"
This passage was used by Paul to make the point that the Lord makes his own choices. He expresses his will through the decisions he makes and he chose Jacob to inherit the blessing he gave his grandfather Abraham. As we read the account of Esau, we discover he was anything but a man of faith, willing to give up any blessing from the Lord for a meal. Jacob, on the other hand, was a man of faith and received the Lord's blessing.
What is interesting to see in the account in Genesis is that it didn't matter what Issac thought about the Lord's choice or Esau himself (as it dawned on him what all he was losing out on.)
The reference Paul makes is in Romans 9 where Paul makes the case that although the Jews of the day rejected Jesus Christ and attempted to "earn" their way into the kingdom of heaven by keeping the law, it was the Lord's choice that salvation be by faith, not by works. "Rebekah's children were conceived at the same time by our father Isaac. Yet, before the twins were born or had done anything good or bad—in order that God's purpose in election might stand: not by works but by him who calls—she was told, 'The older will serve the younger.' Just as it is written: 'Jacob I loved, but Esau I hated.'" Romans 9:10-13.
It turns out the Lord's intent by giving the commandments to Moses was to show us we are sinners, in need of saving. It was not to bring salvation. "Therefore no one will be declared righteous in God's sight by the works of the law; rather, through the law we become conscious of our sin." Romans 3:20.
In Romans 9:16 Paul goes on to say, "It does not, therefore, depend on human desire or effort, but on God's mercy." It is in this chapter that Paul makes clear those he has chosen to embrace in his mercy are those who embrace him in faith, "What then shall we say? That the Gentiles, who did not pursue righteousness, have obtained it, a righteousness that is by faith; but the people of Israel, who pursued the law as the way of righteousness, have not attained their goal. Why not? Because they pursued it not by faith but as if it were by works. They stumbled over the stumbling stone. As it is written: 'See, I lay in Zion a stone that causes people to stumble and a rock that makes them fall, and the one who believes in him will never be put to shame.'" Romans 9:30-33.
As such, contrary to what many think today, God's "chosen ones" are those who choose him, who embrace him in faith, "To all who did receive him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God— children born not of natural descent, nor of human decision or a husband's will, but born of God." John 1:12. Jesus told us, "Very truly I tell you, whoever hears my word and believes him who sent me has eternal life and will not be judged but has crossed over from death to life." John 5:24.
Become one of God's chosen ones by embracing him in faith today!
Anything of the Lord capture your heart from Scripture today? Share what moved you about him from your Bible reading today. I'd love to hear from you!
If you have someone you would like to receive these ruminations, send me their email address. I'm happy to add them to the list. If you are receiving this and would like to be removed from the list, just respond and let me know.
Trevor Fisk
trevor.fisk@gmail.com
"'I have loved you,' says the Lord. 'But you ask, "How have you loved us?" Was not Esau Jacob's brother?' declares the Lord. 'Yet I have loved Jacob, but Esau I have hated, and I have turned his hill country into a wasteland and left his inheritance to the desert jackals.'"
This passage was used by Paul to make the point that the Lord makes his own choices. He expresses his will through the decisions he makes and he chose Jacob to inherit the blessing he gave his grandfather Abraham. As we read the account of Esau, we discover he was anything but a man of faith, willing to give up any blessing from the Lord for a meal. Jacob, on the other hand, was a man of faith and received the Lord's blessing.
What is interesting to see in the account in Genesis is that it didn't matter what Issac thought about the Lord's choice or Esau himself (as it dawned on him what all he was losing out on.)
The reference Paul makes is in Romans 9 where Paul makes the case that although the Jews of the day rejected Jesus Christ and attempted to "earn" their way into the kingdom of heaven by keeping the law, it was the Lord's choice that salvation be by faith, not by works. "Rebekah's children were conceived at the same time by our father Isaac. Yet, before the twins were born or had done anything good or bad—in order that God's purpose in election might stand: not by works but by him who calls—she was told, 'The older will serve the younger.' Just as it is written: 'Jacob I loved, but Esau I hated.'" Romans 9:10-13.
It turns out the Lord's intent by giving the commandments to Moses was to show us we are sinners, in need of saving. It was not to bring salvation. "Therefore no one will be declared righteous in God's sight by the works of the law; rather, through the law we become conscious of our sin." Romans 3:20.
In Romans 9:16 Paul goes on to say, "It does not, therefore, depend on human desire or effort, but on God's mercy." It is in this chapter that Paul makes clear those he has chosen to embrace in his mercy are those who embrace him in faith, "What then shall we say? That the Gentiles, who did not pursue righteousness, have obtained it, a righteousness that is by faith; but the people of Israel, who pursued the law as the way of righteousness, have not attained their goal. Why not? Because they pursued it not by faith but as if it were by works. They stumbled over the stumbling stone. As it is written: 'See, I lay in Zion a stone that causes people to stumble and a rock that makes them fall, and the one who believes in him will never be put to shame.'" Romans 9:30-33.
As such, contrary to what many think today, God's "chosen ones" are those who choose him, who embrace him in faith, "To all who did receive him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God— children born not of natural descent, nor of human decision or a husband's will, but born of God." John 1:12. Jesus told us, "Very truly I tell you, whoever hears my word and believes him who sent me has eternal life and will not be judged but has crossed over from death to life." John 5:24.
Become one of God's chosen ones by embracing him in faith today!
Anything of the Lord capture your heart from Scripture today? Share what moved you about him from your Bible reading today. I'd love to hear from you!
If you have someone you would like to receive these ruminations, send me their email address. I'm happy to add them to the list. If you are receiving this and would like to be removed from the list, just respond and let me know.
Trevor Fisk
trevor.fisk@gmail.com
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