7. or a descendant of Abraham. However, ⌊as Scripture says,⌋ “Through Isaac your descendants will carry on your name.”
8. This means that children born by natural descent ⌊from Abraham⌋ are not necessarily God’s children. Instead, children born by the promise are considered Abraham’s descendants.
9. For example, this is what the promise said, “I will come back at the right time, and Sarah will have a son.”
10. The same thing happened to Rebekah. Rebekah became pregnant by our ancestor Isaac.
11. Before the children had been born or had done anything good or bad, Rebekah was told that the older child would serve the younger one. This was said to Rebekah so that God’s plan would remain a matter of his choice,
12. a choice based on God’s call and not on anything people do.
13. The Scriptures say, “I loved Jacob, but I hated Esau.”
14. What can we say—that God is unfair? That’s unthinkable!
15. For example, God said to Moses, “I will be kind to anyone I want to. I will be merciful to anyone I want to.”
16. Therefore, God’s choice does not depend on a person’s desire or effort, but on God’s mercy.
17. For example, Scripture says to Pharaoh, “I put you here for this reason: to demonstrate my power through you and to spread my name throughout the earth.”
18. Therefore, if God wants to be kind to anyone, he will be. If he wants to make someone stubborn, he will.