Lesson 120

Romans Chapter Nine

The Faithfulness of God to Israel

Review:

- Paul makes it clear here though that it was not enough to be of the seed of Abraham, his descendant after the flesh, something more involved!

9:8 States the distinction;

That is between the children of the flesh and those of the promise.

- Paul in vs:9 goes back to Gen. and quotes 18:14 where the assurance of the promise coming through Isaac, not Ishmael was given to Abraham;

This makes it clear that Isaac was born by God's choice since only God could enable his conception and birth.

- So Paul's first illustration was that not all Israel is true Israel, not all the seed of Abe are Israel because it is not based on their physical lineage alone;

#2 not based on human performance 9:10-13 Jacob and Esau [next generation]

Clearly we have God's sovereignty in view here, He has made a choice, one to fulfill His purpose, His plan.

God made sovereign choices at various times in history to establish the nation Israel; whom He choose [Dt. 7:6-8] to be His special possession, His special agency on earth to work through.

Main focus of all this is the line of Christ; the promised seed [Gal. 3:16] also in 9:5 "from whom is the Christ according to the flesh."

- Line of Christ

Abraham Gen 12:3

Isaac Gen 17:19

Jacob Gen 25:23

Judah Gen 49:10 Jacob blessing his sons;

David 2 Sam 7:12-16

- Explanation to Mary Lk 1:31-33 by the angel makes the connection with the Davidic line and that He was to rule over the house of Jacob; the nation Israel.

- Vs.11 begins with a statement followed by a purpose clause; Read!

- The purpose clause begins with "in order that - God's purpose according to (His) choice might stand,"

purpose = proqesij fr. protiqhmi idea is to set before one self, to propose to one's self, to purpose;

During the time frame in view, what was the primary purpose/focus of God's plan?

God's choice of Jacob over Esau is indicated by the quote in 9:12 from Gen 25:23;

Note: John Calvin confused and mixed election and predestination.

He used this passage as the definition passage on election to salvation which is not even the subject of the context.

This statement that the older would serve the younger was a major cultural shock to Rebekah and Isaac.

Under the rights of primogeniture the first born son which would be Esau, but not by much, would have all the inheritance rights; this was the pattern of the time and was not questioned.

We know of no situation or incident from Scripture where we can say that Esau himself personally served the younger/lesser Jacob.

But we do know that Esau's descendants, the Edomites, did serve Jacob's descendants, Israel. [2 Sam 8:14]

Look at Mal 1:2-3 It is here that we see love and hate in the wider context YHWH is pleading with Israel, the sons of Jacob, to serve and obey Him, and He does so on the ground that He is doubly entitled to their obedience, first because He is creator and second because of the privileges that they have; these demonstrate My love for you!

Love and hate are both attitudes and we need to understand what God means by their use.

The Hebrew thought process is contrasting between what is to be chosen or preferred and what is to be rejected and despised.

- Dr. Walter Kaiser Jr. commenting on these two words and their use makes this statement; Only the one who truly loves can understand the need to hate with a burning hatred all wrong and evil.

Kittles Theological Dict. misew; its use in OT/LXX; This is not an emotional hatred but a disowning of evil and of those who commit it. As the wicked love evil and hate the good so the righteous love the good and hate the evil.

- To hit the average 20th Century Christian mentality with the idea that to please God you must be a lover and a hater! They just can't fathom this at all!