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it was said to her, “The older shall serve the younger.”<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n God\u2019s choice is not dictated by human characteristics.<\/p>\n The word translated \u201colder<\/span>\u201d is meidz\u014dn<\/em><\/span>, which is the comparative form of megas<\/em><\/span>, meaning \u201cgreat\u201d or \u201clarge.\u201d Meidz\u014dn<\/em><\/span> appears in forty-four different passages in the New Testament and in none of them does it carry the meaning \u201colder.\u201d It means \u201cgreater in stature, power, quality, or importance.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYounger<\/span>\u201d is from the Greek word elass\u014dn<\/em><\/span>, which is the comparative of mikros<\/em><\/span>, meaning \u201cinferior in worth, quality, size, or age.\u201d<\/p>\n The word \u201cserve<\/span>\u201d is translated from the verb form of doulos<\/em><\/span>, indicating one who is a slave to another.<\/p>\n Paul now continues with his example of election. His reference here is to a passage in Genesis 25:21-23<\/span><\/strong>:<\/span><\/p>\n Now Isaac pleaded with the LORD for his wife, because she was<\/em> barren; and the LORD granted his plea, and Rebekah his wife conceived. But the children struggled together within her; and she said, “If all is<\/em> well, why am I like<\/em> this?” So she went to inquire of the LORD. And the LORD said to her: “two nations are<\/em> in your womb, two peoples shall be separated from your body; one<\/em> people shall be stronger than the other, and the older shall serve the younger.”<\/p>\n In today\u2019s verse, as well as the Old Testament passage that is quoted, the language that is used indicates that the greater of the two (Esau) will be a slave to the lesser (Jacob). Age does not appear to be the distinguishing characteristic as much as power and importance (from a human perspective).<\/p>\n While they were still inside Rebekah, God declared that Esau would serve Jacob. This reference is not specifically to the persons of Esau and Jacob, but to their descendants, for Easu never was a slave to Jacob; rather, it is a reference to their posterity. While the descendants of Esau (the Edomites) were a larger and stronger people than the descendants of Jacob (the Israelites), they were defeated and finally subjugated by Israel.<\/p>\n If we read the Old Testament accounts in Genesis 25, 27, 29, and 30<\/strong><\/span>, we see that Jacob tricked Esau out of his birthright and out of his parental blessing from their father Isaac. We also see that Jacob conspired against his father-in-law Laban to gain the stronger and better of Laban\u2019s sheep. Jacob was constantly scheming to get the better of others. But all along, his success was not because of his cleverness; rather, it was because God chose to bless him. And it clearly was not because Jacob deserved God\u2019s blessing; it was strictly because God chose to bless Him.<\/p>\n The really incomprehensible part of God\u2019s election is His reason for choosing some unto blessing and not others. It is reasonable to believe that God has some basis for his choosing, but we are never told what it is. What we do know about this election is that it is based on God\u2019s choice, not ours. That\u2019s Paul\u2019s point throughout this entire passage in the book of Romans.<\/p>\n In God\u2019s service, for His glory,<\/strong><\/p>\nTruth to Learn<\/span><\/strong><\/span><\/h3>\n
Behind the Words<\/span><\/strong><\/span><\/h3>\n
Meaning Explained<\/span><\/strong><\/span><\/h3>\n
Application<\/span><\/strong><\/span><\/h3>\n
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