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intensely human side of his career. Jacob's history begins before his birth. The N.T.
commentary upon Gen. 25: 22-26 is found in Rom. 9: 10-13:--
"When Rebecca also had conceived by one, even by our father Isaac; for the children
being not yet born, neither having done any good or evil, that the purpose of God
according to election might stand, not of works but of Him that calleth; it was said unto
her, the elder shall serve the younger, as it is written, Jacob have I loved, but Esau have I
hated."
The purpose according to election is a key to Israel's position and privilege. The
purpose ensured a remnant in the days of deepest apostasy. When Elijah felt he alone
was left, the answer of God to him was, "I have reserved unto myself seven thousand
men, who have not bowed his knee to the image of Baal."; so verse 5 continues, "at the
present time also there is a remnant according to the election of grace". Thus we have
Israel blinded with the exception of a remnant.
Let not a cold Calvinism, however, intrude its rough-shod logic here. It is a simple
thing to divided the world into two classes, the elect who are saved, and the reprobate
who are as most certainly damned. The teaching of Scripture, however, is not so.
Chapter 11: continues, and looking onward into the days to come speaks of a time of
Israel's fullness, and of receiving them back again; of regrafting the broken branches in.
The remnant according to an ELECTION OF GRACE far from excluding the rest pledges
their restoration, for the figure used by the apostle in this connection is "the firstfruits"
(verse 16). The firstfruit presupposes a harvest to come, and the election of grace
presupposes the words of 26-29, "and so ALL Israel shall be saved.......for the gifts and
calling of God are without repentance".
The opening words of chapter 9: balance the closing verse of chapter 11: In both
sections come the words, "all Israel"; in chapter 9: we read:--
"They are NOT ALL ISRAEL that are Israel, neither because they are the seed of
Abraham are they all children, but in Isaac shall thy seed be called.......the children of
the promise are counted for the seed."
Some who were the children of Abraham by physical descent were nevertheless
children of the devil according to the Lord's own testimony (John 8: 33-44). The
nation of Israel, as a nation, was so according to election. Whether that national election
is co-extensive with the salvation of Rom. 11: 26 is a point which we are not called upon
to settle.
In Gen. 25: we have the election of the nation, "two nations are in thy womb", "the
one people shall be stronger than the other people". When God made the promise of a
seed to Abraham, the flesh spoilt the answer of faith by introducing Hagar, in a weak
attempt to help God fulfil His word. When God so definitely said, "the elder SHALL
serve the younger", it should have been sufficient. The firstborn according to election
must stand. Yet what do we find? The flesh practicing deception upon Isaac in the
matter of the blessing of the firstborn.