“I have loved you,” says the Lord. But you say, “How have you loved us?” “Is not Esau Jacob’s brother?” declares the Lord. “Yet I have loved Jacob but Esau I have hated. I have laid waste his hill country and left his heritage to jackals of the desert.” Malachi 1:2-3 – This can be a hard passage to work through, but the meaning isn’t overly complicated. God is seeking to rekindle Israel’s passion for Him by first reminding them of His passion for them. He declares His love for them upfront, yet knows they may not believe He loves them because they still are facing difficulties and haven’t seen all His promises fulfilled yet. How then does the Lord prove to them He loves them? By the line “Yet I have loved Jacob and Esau I have hated.” Let’s understand this isn’t hate like we first think about it, instead read it as Jacob I chose and Esau I didn’t. Jacob was chosen by God and received God’s promise and blessing. Esau though didn’t get chosen and didn’t receive the same promises that were offered to God. Is that fair? Is it fair that God would loving choose Jacob and offer so much to Him and yet not choose to offer the same to Esau? I think a story I found when studying this passage helps us understand the fairness of this…“A woman once said to Mr. Spurgeon, ‘I cannot understand why God should say that He hated Esau.’ ‘That,’ Spurgeon replied, ‘is not my difficulty, madam. My trouble is to understand how God could love Jacob.’” The “unfairness” of this isn’t that Jacob was chosen and Esau was not, it is that Jacob was chosen at all. We must understand none of us deserve this life with Jesus, yet the fact that God has chosen to love us is a wonderful demonstration of His love. Yes, the concepts of election and God’s sovereignty and free will is difficult to grasp, one that I don’t even fully comprehend. Yet what is more difficult for me to understand is how such a holy God would love a wretch such as me…but I’m eternally grateful He does. I love you, but Jesus loves you more – Mac – Daily DEVO 3319
Question To Ponder: How does it feel knowing God loves you?
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