9:10-13 Does this not prove that God arbitrarily chooses whom He will save and whom He will not?
9:10-13 Does this not prove that God arbitrarily chooses whom He will save and whom He will not?
No, the same teaching as in V7-9 concerning Isaac and Ishmael applies here. What God predetermined concerning Jacob and Esau had nothing whatever to do with salvation (CP also Gen 25:19-28; Mal 1:1-3). God chose Jacob over Esau in order for His eternal purpose to be fulfilled in the earth.
That is what the phrase, "That the purpose of God according to election might stand" in Ro 9:11, means (CP V11). God purposed that Messiah - Jesus - would come from the nation of Israel to fulfil His redemptive plan (CP Gen 49:10; Mic 5:2; Mt 2:3-6; Lu 2:11). Israel was one of two nations in Rebecca's womb, and was represented by Jacob (CP Gen 32:22-30). Edom was the other nation, and was represented by Esau (CP Gen 36:1, 9, 40-43).
God's rejection of Esau had nothing to do with Esau's eternal destiny. Esau chose his own destiny just as we all choose ours (CP De 30:15-20; Jn 3:16-18, 36; Ro 1:16).
The story of Jacob and Esau has nothing whatever to do with the personal salvation of individuals, as so many in the contemporary church believe.
Paul told it simply to illustrate the fact that God chooses to save by grace and not by works, and that the purpose of God according to election will be on His terms alone. Works will have no part in it. (CP Ro 3:27-30; 4:1-5; 5:8-11, 17-21; 11:6; 2Cor 5:14-21; Eph 2:4-22; 1Pe 2:24). Ro 9:13 is quoted from Mal 1:1-3 (CP Mal 1:1-3).
This does not mean however that God literally hated Esau and loved Jacob.
Hated, as used here, is an idiom of preference, not a term expressing literal hatred toward someone. Jesus used it the same way in the New Testament (CP Lu 14:25-27 with Mt 10:37-38). God's prediction to Rebekah that Esau, the elder, would serve Jacob, the younger, was fulfilled in Edom's defeat by King David, who made the Edomites serve Israel (CP Ro 9:12 with 2Sam 8:14; Psa 60:7-12).
See also comments on Mt 11:28-30, 13:10-11, 20:16; Jn 3:15-16, 3:36, 6:37, 12:37-40, Ac 2:37-38, 13:48, 28:23-29, Ro 3:24-26(A), 8:28-30, 9:7, 9:14-18, 9:19-21, 10:14-17, 11:2, 11:4, Eph 1:3-6, 1:11-14, 2:8-10, 1Th 1:4; 2Ti 1:8-9; 1Pe 1:2, and author's studies Salvation -
A Free Will Choice or Predestinated?, Chosen by God? and Israel in God's eternal Purpose in his book Advanced Studies in the Christian Faith (Volume 1), and The Doctrine of Grace in his book Advanced Studies in the Christian Faith (Volume 2).