Read Ro. 9: 1-24
Paul starts out mourning for his fellow Jews that chose to remain living in their flesh and not in God's spirit. God showed us from the very beginning that he had a holy seed and a fleshly seed. Abraham was to be the the father of God's children. When the promised didn't come Abraham tried in the flesh to make it happen. He had Ishmael. But God said that he would call those of Isaac's seed. Isaac grew up and married Rebecca. They had twins and before they were born God called the younger to himself and rejected the older. We are all formed for a reason which is not really our choice. We are the clay- he is the potter. Pharoah was born, a vessel of wrath fit to destruction so that God could show his power through him. We are born vessels of mercy so that God can show his glory through us. I can't explain why some are chosen for glory and some are chosen for wrath, but I know that it happens before they are born. Our finite minds cannot comprehend it but it is all according to his plan. God is Just.
I have a thought about why so many second-born sons were blessed and how many first-born sons were cursed. It is a picture God is trying to convey. We are born first of the flesh condemned to sin and hell. We that are born a second time are blessed and receive the inheritance God promises to those who believe in Jesus. The Jews were the first born of God but the Gentiles were the ones that took the birthright from them and received the salvation promised to the Jew. True, many Jews came to Jesus, but as a people, they rejected Jesus. Many Gentiles rejected Jesus, but as a people, they accepted him.
Lord, your ways and your thoughts are so much higher than ours. We cannot comprehend them. Teach us your ways that we might follow you all the days of our lives.
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