7. nor are they all children because they are descendants of Abraham, but “In Isaac will your descendants be named.”
8. That is, it is not the children by human descent who are children of God, but the children of the promise are counted as descendants.
9. For the statement of the promise is this: “At this time I will return and Sarah will have a son.”
10. And not only this, but also when Rebecca conceived children by one man, Isaac our father—
11. for although they had not yet been born, or done anything good or evil, in order that the purpose of God according to election might remain,
12. not by works but by the one who calls—it was said to her, “The older will serve the younger,”
13. just as it is written, “Jacob I loved, but Esau I hated.”
14. What then shall we say? There is no injustice with God, is there? May it never be!
15. For to Moses he says, “I will have mercy on whomever I have mercy, and I will have compassion on whomever I have compassion.”
16. Consequently therefore, it does not depend on the one who wills or on the one who runs, but on God who shows mercy.
17. For the scripture says to Pharaoh, “For this very reason I have raised you up, so that I may demonstrate my power in you, and so that my name might be proclaimed in all the earth.”