Creator, Father, King #59

God showed his great love for us by sending Christ to die for us while we were still sinners.

ANY PREGNANT WOMAN CAN tell you the joys—and discomforts—of a baby moving inside the womb. It’s one of the wonders of the prenatal period.

But what Rebekah, the wife of Abraham’s son, Isaac, felt inside her was like two mixed martial artists grappling in a steel cage. Rebekah was carrying twins! Their names were Jacob (younger) and Esau (older). The boys weren’t going to grow up to be best buddies. They even fought in utero! (See Genesis 25:22.) When they were born, little bro came out grasping Esau’s foot, so he was named Jacob, which means “one who grabs the heel.” Not a compliment!

This strife continued through the family lineage. Jacob became a master deceiver, while Esau, a “godless” man (Hebrews 12:16), wanted to kill Jacob for a time. Jacob’s twelve sons became the twelve tribes of Israel. But early on, these men were bloodthirsty scoundrels who sold their brother, Joseph, into slavery. As you trace ancient Israel’s history, it’s one moral failure after another.

Why, then, did God specifically choose Abraham’s family to initiate his plan of salvation? Down the line, this family was filled with thieves, liars, hypocrites, adulterers, murderers, and idolaters. Why didn’t he pick a better family?

What’s It Mean?

Indeed, Abraham’s family was filled with all sorts of rebels, miscreants, and reprobates. But so is everyone’s. “All have sinned and fall short of the glory of God” (Romans 3:23, ESV).

Thankfully, God not only saves sinners, but also uses them in his eternal plan of redemption. In fact, he receives more glory because he accomplishes his eternal purposes while using those whose hearts were once hardened against him! (See today’s verse.)

God didn’t choose Abraham’s family to change the world because of any inherent righteousness in them. He graciously worked through both their obedience and rebellion to accomplish his sovereign plan of salvation.

God is still saving sinners and using them today. Does he have to? No. But he chooses to! He carries out his redemptive plan not because of us, but rather in spite of our sin. Then he invites us into his plan by grace and helps us become part of it. Praise the Lord!

Now What?

Read the stories of Jacob and Esau in Genesis 25–35.

Did You Know?

In Romans 9:10-13, the apostle Paul uses Jacob and Esau to illustrate the doctrine of election—God’s sovereign plan for salvation. For more on election, check out this key passage of Scripture, as well as the October 17–22 devotions.