but I have hated Esau, and I have made his mountains a
desolation and appointed his inheritance for the jackals of the
wilderness." Though Edom says, "We have been beaten down, but we will
return and build up the ruins"; thus says the LORD of hosts, "They
may build, but I will tear down; and men will call them the wicked
territory, and the people toward whom the LORD is indignant forever."
Insights: As a pastor, there are times I do not
wish to preach the whole council of God’s Scriptures because it can get muddy,
deep, confusing, and at times controversial.
Today and tomorrow I will venture into such territory. In theological circles the subject is that of
election. Today’s verses start off with
the phrase, “but I have hated Esau” and then proceeds to express God’s judgment
on this nation. E. Ray Clendenen wrote,
“This did not mean that all Jacob’s descendants would be spiritually or
eternally ‘saved’ or that all Esau’s descendants necessarily would be
‘lost.’” Stay with me both days as we
work through this process of Scriptural jumping around. First, salvation is not based on us. This truth is what today’s verses, as well
as, Romans 9:10-13 are communicating.
Paul’s words are, “And not only this, but there was Rebekah also, when
she had conceived twins by one man, our father Isaac; for
though the twins were not yet born and had not done anything good or
bad, so that God's purpose according to His choice would 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." So, God’s election is before we are even
born. Second, God desires that all be
saved. 2 Peter 3:9 states, “The Lord is
not slow about His promise, as some count slowness, but is patient toward you,
not wishing for any to perish but for all to come to repentance.” So, God desires for everyone to come to a
saving knowledge of His Son. There
appears to be a contradiction here. It
is for this reason I have titled these next two blogs as God’s Mystery about Love.
God’s love is a mystery. Let me
throw in one more Scripture today and tomorrow we will attempt to finish this
thought. Third, God does the drawing on
men’s hearts. John 6:44 reads, “No one
can come to Me unless the Father who sent Me draws him; and I will raise him up
on the last day.” So, if God does not
draw on a person, there is no chance of them coming to a saving knowledge of
Jesus. God’s mysterious love!
Questions:
- Has the Lord been drawing on your heart?
- Are you willing to respond to His love?
Prayer: Father, thank
You that You have drawn on my heart and allowed me to respond to Your
grace. Amen.
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