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S it is written, Jacob have I loved, but Esau have I hated. 14 What shall we say then? Is there unrighteousness with God? God forbid. 15 For he saith to Moses, I will have mercy on whom I will have mercy, and I will have compassion on whom I will have compassion. (Romans 9:13-15)
There are mysteries associated with the character of Esau but as with most biblical mysteries, they can be understood with a deeper study of the Will and Mind of God in His Scriptures. As with righteous Abel, with Isaac, and with Jacob, these were the second born of their fathers. Esau was the first-born, so was Ishmael, and so was Cain. They would have legally been the sons of preeminence with the fathers, but not so in either of the cases mentioned. Cain was an incorrigible sinner – murderer, liar, and uncaring for his brother. Ishmael was born outside the promise to Abraham that Sarah would bear a child (illegitimate); therefore, Isaac was considered to be the ONLY son of Abraham.
Esau was a macho-man who was a hunter before the Lord. In fact, he placed a higher premium on his hunting than he did upon obedience to God. He was a fellow who was quite sure of himself. He was not only disrespectful to God, but also to his father. In disobedience to the will of his father, Isaac, Esau took wives of the women of Canaan and also married a daughter of Ishmael. This grieved Isaac greatly just as God was grieved at Esau insolence toward his inheritance.
God loved Jacob, but Esau he hated. That seems so out of character of our view of God, but it is a biblical fact. God does not love child predators, vicious murderers, or the depraved. There is a terrible judgment that awaits such people who remain intransigent in their sins. God loves those who love His only Begotten Son. And He knows already those whom He will call out of egregious sin to Himself. The others are doomed to an eternity of darkness in Hell. Those will be subject to the second death mentioned in Revelations: And death and hell were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death. (Rev 20:14)
Jacob, too, was quite undesirable in some respects. He usurped his brother’s inheritance; but in doing so, God made us of his treachery to suit His own purpose. When we come to Christ, God will use even our past sins as a guide to moral consciousness.
While out hunting, Esau became famished with hunger. On his return, his brother, Jacob, was making some red porridge. Esau requested a bowl of the porridge, but Jacob made a deal with Esau – a bowl of red porridge for Esau’s birthright as first son. Like many who take their vows to the Lord seriously, Esau agreed to the exchange perhaps thinking his vow would not be realized. After all, Esau was a macho man and would get his way (he thought). Many professing Christians today are daily trading away their birthright in Christ for a bowl of soup, a diamond ring, a bag of gold, or a night of debauchery. Those who are most materially blessed seem to be more subject to the disavowal of their duties before the Lord – much like Esau.
How did God demonstrate His hatred toward Esau? Did he afflict him with leprosy or some other debilitating malady? Did He take away his status as a wealthy owner of many flocks of cattle? No, God did none of those things. He simply forsook any interference in the life of Esau. He left Esau to his own devices. Esau became the father of the Edomites. Ironically, the hatred of God for Esau was visited upon Esau’s own descendants. Just as Esau had little respect for his own inheritance, so the Edomites suffered the inheritance of God’s disfavor with their father: Whereas Edom saith, We are impoverished, but we will return and build the desolate places; thus saith the Lord of hosts, They shall build, but I will throw down; and they shall call them, The border of wickedness, and, The people against whom the Lord hath indignation for ever. (Malachi 1:4)
If we desert God after having known Him, He may forsake us to our own devices. How do you suppose that will work out for us? But it may be that God will not forsake altogether – He may use our decadence as a means of awakening our consciences to the terrible need we suffer. Only God knows if He will bring the desperate sinner to His bosom - the matter was decided in eternity past before the worlds were made. And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose. 29 For whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brethren. 30 Moreover whom he did predestinate, them he also called: and whom he called, them he also justified: and whom he justified, them he also glorified. (Romans 8:28-30)
