Paul takes up this theme in Romans 9:10-16. He refers God’s choice of Jacob while he was yet in Rebekah’s womb to the election of grace. He emphasises that it was not of works but altogether of grace, going on to say, “Jacob have I loved, but Esau have I hated.” This is an inexplicable mystery. As we consider these two young men, our affections might have been drawn to Esau. He was his father’s son, an outdoor type, skilful in hunting and probably an outgoing character. Jacob, on the other hand, was his mother’s boy, a man of the tents and withdrawn. As time went on, Jacob showed his true nature. He was a self-centred, unscrupulous man who spent his days planning and scheming for his own ends. We probably would not have been attracted to this schemer and cheat. But grace changed Jacob. The schemer met with God at Bethel and Peniel and Jacob the twister became Israel, a prince who had power with God and with men.
Perhaps you have been praying and labouring for the salvation of a loved one who seems too hard to be saved. With the story of God’s almighty grace in the life of Jacob before us, let us never despair of even the hardest cases but believe God for glorious conversions.
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