davidbu@tekigm2.men.tek.com (David Buxton) (12/15/89)
What about Romans 9:13?
"Just as it is written: 'Jacob I loved, but Esau I hated." (Ro. 9:13)
Let us look at what Paul is quoting:
"'I have loved you,' says the Lord. 'But you ask, "How have you loved
us?" Was not Esau Jacob's brother?' the Lord says. 'Yet I have
loved Jacob, but Esau I have hated, and I have turned his mountains
into a wasteland and left his inheritance to the desert jackals.'"
(Malachi 1:2,3)
From Malachi it is clear how the cause and effect goes. It is NOT correct
to say that God hated Esau and that is why Esau turned out the way he did.
God did not predestine what Esau would do. God hates the ways (sins) of
Esau and the ways of the generations that followed in the ways of Esau.
Let us understand what is meant by 'hated' in the Bible context:
* Jacob's preference for Rachel is compared with his 'hatred' for Leah
(Gen. 29:30,31)
* Jesus speaks of 'hating' ones father and mother (Luke 14:26). We
know He was not condoning the breaking of the 5th Commandment.
* Jesus says those who 'hate' their life in this world will be saved.
(John 12:25)
* Hate one and love the other . . . . cannot serve two masters.
(Matt. 6:24)
We often say - "God loves us even though He hates our sin". I think we
know enough about God and Bible language to know that God loved Esau even
though he hated the sins of Esau and the sins of those who followed him for
generations to follow.
What about Romans 9:15?
"I will have mercy on whom I have mercy, and I will have compassion on
whom I have compassion."
Paul is quoting from Exodus 33:17-20. The context is Mt. Sinaii and God is
telling Moses that he cannot see God's face. The issue in this chapter is
not personal salvation, but rather God's right to favor His chosen people.
And we learn that this special favor comes about when they do things that
God directs them to do and the favors diminish as they fail to do as God
directs. I don't see this as a matter of awards vs vengeance but rather in
the same way that a smoker suffers for his smoking and a drinker for his
alcoholism. God had a favored people when they worshiped Him and a pun-
ished people when the got into idolatry, child/human sacrifice and other
gross heathenisms. "You cannot serve two masters.
Verse 17 talks about Pharaoh. Paul is referring to Exodus 9:16. This is
clearly at a time when Pharaoh has survived some pretty miserable plagues
and was probably so sick they thought he would die. God raised Pharaoh up
from his sick bed for a purpose.
Verse 18 talks about hardening whom He wants to harden. Pharaoh had prom-
ised to let the slaves go if each plague was removed.
"But when Pharaoh saw that there was relief, he hardened his heart and
would not listen to Moses and Aaron, just as the Lord had said."
(Exodus 8:15)
Each plague had to be worse and Pharaoh's heart grew harder. Was its God's
persistence that hardened Pharaoh's heart or can we safely let Pharaoh take
responsibility for his own actions and attitude? If it was God who har-
dened Pharaoh's heart then why does it say: "How long wilt thou refuse to
humble yourself before me?" (Ex. 10:3) God was clearly waiting for Pharaoh
to let His people go.
Dave (David E. Buxton)
davidbu@tekigm2.MEN.TEK.COM