6 It is not as though God’s word has failed. For not all who are descended from Israel are Israel. 7 Nor because they are Abraham’s descendants are they all his children. On the contrary, “Through Isaac your offspring will be reckoned.” 8 So it is not the children of the flesh who are God’s children, but it is the children of the promise who are regarded as offspring. 9 For this is what the promise stated: “At the appointed time I will return, and Sarah will have a son.”
10 Not only that, but Rebecca’s children were conceived by one man, our father Isaac. 11 Yet before the twins were born or had done anything good or bad, in order that God’s plan of election might stand, 12 not by works but by Him who calls, she was told, “The older will serve the younger.” 13 So it is written: “Jacob I loved, but Esau I hated.”
REFLECTIONS
Written by Ken Wong
Playground soccer games were always a nerve-racking affair for me. The two best players were usually the captains of each team (which was never me). They had the task of picking their teammates one by one. I had the task of nervously waiting to be picked. It was always a great relief when I was picked by the captain that day.
Today we encounter another type of selection, or perhaps non-selection. In yesterday’s passage, Paul lamented that despite the advantages that his fellow Jews enjoyed, very few were being saved. Now Paul says in verse 6, “not all descended from Israel are Israel”. In other words, not every physical descendent of Israel belongs to the true Israel. Not all Israelites will receive the blessing that God promised to Israel.
That raises a very important question: Has God’s promise failed?
Paul uses two examples from the book of Genesis to show that, no, God’s promise has not failed. It was always intended to work that way. God promised that a “seed” or descendant of Abraham would bless the world, but not all “seeds” of Abraham would belong to God.
First, Abraham’s sons Ishmael and Isaac. Both were born to Abraham, but Ishmael is described as a child born of the flesh and human effort. Isaac was born to Sarah in her old age, as the child of God’s promise, by God’s sovereign power. Only Isaac was the seed of God’s promise to bless the world.
Secondly, Isaac’s twin sons Esau and Jacob. Even before they were born, Jacob was destined for blessing, but God had rejected Esau as part of the line of Abraham’s seed. That was not because Jacob was good and Esau was bad, even though later Esau despised God’s promise. But salvation is always by God’s grace and sovereignty and not by human family line or works.
The truth of God’s election to salvation is in the Bible is meant to give great assurance to believers. We might struggle with it (we’ll think more about it tomorrow). But God’s election is like being picked by Lionel Messi for his team, only infinitely better, because when Jesus picks us for his team, victory is assured. And his choice doesn’t depend on our worth or our feeble efforts, only on his death and resurrection for us. He always carries his team.
On the flip side, I am also reminded not to fall into the trap of the Pharisees. Being born to a Christian family, or being in church for a long time, are both great blessings. But neither our family line nor belonging to church save us. I need to recommit myself to Christ each day and rely on him alone for my salvation.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Ken is a member of our Fairfield Morning congregation.