11-12. But before the two sons were born, God told Rebecca, “The older son will serve the younger.” This was before the boys had done anything good or bad. God said this before they were born so that the boy he wanted would be chosen because of God’s own plan. He was chosen because he was the one God wanted to call, not because of anything the boys did.
13. As the Scriptures say, “I loved Jacob, but I hated Esau.”
14. So what does this mean? That God is not fair? We cannot say that.
15. God said to Moses, “I will show mercy to anyone I want to show mercy to. I will show pity to anyone I choose.”
16. So God will choose anyone he decides to show mercy to, and his choice does not depend on what people want or try to do.
17. In the Scriptures God says to Pharaoh: “I made you king so that you could do this for me. I wanted to show my power through you. I wanted my name to be announced throughout the world.”