I was born into an interesting family. Interesting to me but not wealthy or famous. My dad is from one part of the country and during a war he was stationed in another part of the country where my mother lived. These two families from across the country did not mix very much because of the distance and this merger was long before the invent of the internet and social media. I grew up spending time in both worlds and identify with both families. I was born into these families and they are a part of who I am. Jacob and Esau are twins born in the same family but they live different lives and God states from the beginning one is hated but one is loved.

Nations from Families

At the beginning of human history God brings about the nations through the families of very interesting individuals. Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob form the primary linage of the Jewish people a lineage that provides a savior for the entire world, Jesus. What is interesting is that all of the children of Abraham form the foundation of future nations and one example of that is captured in the promise God made to Rebekah, who is Isaac’s wife, about twins that are inside her body.

23 The Lord said to her, “Two nations are in your womb, and two peoples from within you will be separated; one people will be stronger than the other, and the older will serve the younger.” Genesis 25:23 ESV

Fathers of Nations

There is so much interesting about these twins who will be very different from each other with one being much stronger than the other. Imagine God telling you that your children will be the fathers of nations? Entire nations will be born from this family. God also makes an even more fascinating qualification about Jacob one of the twins and his parents before him. God claims to be their God. Normally someone will claim to worship or serve a certain God, but God himself claims that he is the God of one of these twins Jacob.

Throughout the Old Testament and the New Testament God describes Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob in this peculiar way. When God revealed himself to Moses through the burning bush, he told Moses that he is the same God that Moses’ fathers knew.

32 ‘I am the God of your fathers, the God of Abraham and of Isaac and of Jacob.’ And Moses trembled and did not dare to look. Acts 7:32 ESV

I am the God of your Fathers

First God uses the present tense to describe his relationship with these patriarchs. “I am” the God of your father not “I was” the God of your father. Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob while dead to this world are alive with God in heaven. God knows them still and continues on in his relationship with them. Second God always speaks of the individual relationship he has with each of them. Abraham’s relationship with God was not Isaac’s relationship. Isaac knew God and held his own relationship with God and the same is true with Jacob. Jacob never knew Abraham but Jacob worshiped and loved the same God. Jacob’s twin brother, Esau, did not know God in this way and God never writes that he is the God of Esau. Worse yet God writes that he hates Esau.

12 she was told, “The older will serve the younger.” 13 As it is written, “Jacob I loved, but Esau I hated.” Romans 9:12-13 ESV

God Picks Favorites

It is a shocking revelation to hear that God “hated” Esau. We dislike thinking in these terms about God and his thoughts towards us but it is a reality. God and Esau are estranged because of sin but Jacob even in spite of his sins is loved by God. There is a relationship present where Jacob draws near to God and followed in the ways that God wanted for him. Esau did not have a relationship and he did not build a relationship with God.

Today right now as a follower of Christ and a Christian saved by Jesus I know that God loves me. I know that God is my God. Not because of any good deeds, because my sins are great, but because Jesus died to save me. Jacob, Isaac, and Abraham are loved by God because of their faith. I am able to share in this faith because of Jesus.

When confronted by God in his burning bush moment Moses believed what God told him. Each of us today has an opportunity to respond to God in faith and trust him. We each have before us the love letter from God to human kind as found in the Bible. Will we believe God as Jacob did? Will we individually be born into this eternal family? Will God be your God? Or like Esau will we be limited to an earthly family and nation? Like Esau will God never claim to be our God?

9 because, if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. 10 For with the heart one believes and is justified, and with the mouth one confesses and is saved. 11 For the Scripture says, “Everyone who believes in him will not be put to shame.” 12 For there is no distinction between Jew and Greek; for the same Lord is Lord of all, bestowing his riches on all who call on him. 13 For “everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.” Romans 10:9-13 ESV

Thank you for reading. I pray this is helpful to your devotional or small group Bible study. If you enjoyed please click the like button or leave a comment.