Children of Flesh vs. Promise

Romans 9:6 “Not as though the word of God hath taken none effect. For they are not all Israel, which are of Israel:”

As Paul looks at the spiritual condition of the nation of Israel at the time of this letter, it would seem that God’s word had been proven not true. He makes clear that is not the case. Now he begins to elaborate on the truth he presented in chapter 2. Not everyone who is an Israelite by birth is a true Israelite—a part of that chosen family of God.

The following quote is from Arnold Fruchtenbaum and makes an important point.

“It is important that this verse is not misunderstood. Paul is not distinguishing between Israel and the Church or between Jews and Gentiles. Rather, he is distinguishing between Jews who believe in the Messiahship of Yeshua and Jews who do not believe or between the Remnant and the non-Remnant. The first expression, all Israel, refers to the believing Jewish Remnant, which is the believing, natural seed of Abraham. The second expression, of Israel, refers to the entire nation, the whole natural seed. There is one Israel which comprises the entire nation and, within the whole of physical Israel, there is a spiritual Israel. Spiritual Israel is never stated in Scripture to be the Church. Spiritual Israel is always those Jews, within the nation as a whole, who believe.”

Romans 9:7-8 “Neither, because they are the seed of Abraham, are they all children: but, In Isaac shall thy seed be called. That is, They which are the children of the flesh, these are not the children of God: but the children of the promise are counted for the seed.”

It would seem that these verses are defining the difference between the spiritual heritage of Israel and the physical heritage of Israel. Abraham was God’s chosen man to father the children of faith. Abraham had other children in the flesh. Isaac, however, was unique in that he was the child of promise that was birthed through the supernatural provision of God.

Isaac represents the father of the physical seed of the people of Israel. You can’t be born by flesh into the family of God; you can only become a child of God through faith. The physical descendants of Israel through Isaac/Jacob represent those who will eventually experience the fullness of the physical “seed” as promised in the verses from Genesis 28 above (comments on verses 3-4). Isaac was the child of promise to Abraham and Sara that was born through faith; therefore, all his descendants who become followers of God through faith are considered the true children of Abraham.

Romans 9:9-12 “For this is the word of promise, At this time will I come, and Sara shall have a son. And not only this; but when Rebecca also had conceived by one, even by our father Isaac; (For the children being not yet born, neither having done any good or evil, that the purpose of God according to election might stand, not of works, but of him that calleth;) It was said unto her, The elder shall serve the younger.”

Isaac was born in due time according to the direct revelation of God to Abraham (Genesis 18). Isaac fathered twins, Jacob and Esau, through Rebekah. It was God’s choice that Jacob would be the son through whom the covenant with Abraham and Isaac would continue. Paul makes it clear that this decision was made before the babies were born—before they had done either good or evil. Jacob wasn’t better than Esau—he was just privileged to be God’s choice.

From the beginning God was clear that salvation was a matter of grace through faith and not works. Salvation is a gift according to the will and plan of God.

Romans 9:13 “As it is written, Jacob have I loved, but Esau have I hated.”

This whole chapter is difficult and this verse one of the most difficult. I finally feel like I got some understanding when I first really studied the story of Rachel and Leah. We automatically associate the word hate with the most horrible of thoughts; the Greek, however, includes the thought of “loving less.” This understanding is supported by the scripture concerning Leah.

Genesis 29:30-31 And he went in also unto Rachel, and he loved also Rachel more than Leah, and served with him yet seven other years. And when the LORD saw that Leah was hated, he opened her womb: but Rachel was barren.”

That really solidified my thinking in this area. I know that according to His word, God is not willing that any should perish. God chose Jacob to a position of privilege and honor, just as Jacob loved Rachel more than Leah. It doesn’t mean He didn’t love Esau at all—just that He loved him less. That is a choice we have no right to question of our Creator. The prophet Jeremiah declared this truth.

Jeremiah 18:6 “O house of Israel, cannot I do with you as this potter? saith the LORD. Behold, as the clay is in the potter’s hand, so are ye in mine hand, O house of Israel.”