What did Esau Do?

Someone at my church recently asked the question, “Why does God hate Esau? What did Esau do?” It’s a great question, one that could be answered with a book-length answer, but I’ll try to answer it a little more concisely. First, the background passages:

Malachi 1:2-3 – “I have loved you,” says the Lord. But you say, “How have you loved us?” “Is not Esau Jacob’s brother?” declares the Lord. “Yet I have loved Jacob ³ but Esau I have hated. I have laid waste his hill country and left his heritage to jackals of the desert.”

The answer is found in Romans.

Romans 9:10-16 –  And not only so, but also when Rebekah had conceived children by one man, our forefather Isaac, ¹¹ though they were not yet born and had done nothing either good or bad—in order that God’s purpose of election might continue, not because of works but because of him who calls— ¹² she was told, “The older will serve the younger.” ¹³ As it is written, “Jacob I loved, but Esau I hated.” 

¹⁴ What shall we say then? Is there injustice on God’s part? By no means! ¹⁵ For he says to Moses, “I will have mercy on whom I have mercy, and I will have compassion on whom I have compassion.” ¹⁶ So then it depends not on human will or exertion, but on God, who has mercy.

This is the simple answer with a more complex theological background. It wasn’t about something Esau did or didn’t do. This is an illustration of God’s sovereignty in salvation. He will choose who He will chose regardless of anything they might or might not do.

Ephesians 2:8-9 tells us that our salvation is not your own doing... not a result of works,

Esau and his people clearly rejected God (as does everyone according to Romans 3). They later became known as the Edomites (Jacob’s people became known as Israel). In Obadiah 10, we see that the violence of Esau/Edom’s toward Jacob/Israel was part of the picture as well. Obadiah was written over a thousand years after Esau lived, so this clearly is about Esau’s people, not Esau himself. Also, God’s love of Jacob referred to his descendants as well. Specifically, the remnant, (through whom Christ was descended). Those who trust in God. Remember: God is faithful to His people and punishment will come to those who are not His people. 

Psalm 5:4-6 says, For you are not a God who delights in wickedness; evil may not dwell with you. ⁵ The boastful shall not stand before your eyes; you hate all evildoers. ⁶ You destroy those who speak lies; the Lord abhors the bloodthirsty and deceitful man. Ultimately, it’s sin that God hates. And God’s hatred is not like ours. Our “hatred” is typically a malicious attitude, but God is righteous when He hates evil. In fact, we are called in many places to hate sin and evil. (Amos 5:15 – Hate evil, and love good, and establish justice in the gate; it may be that the Lord, the God of hosts, will be gracious to the remnant of Joseph. See also: Psalms. 97:10 & 139:19–22; Proverbs 8:13 & 13:5).

The bottom line is this: God is God. Anything He does is just and righteous. We are only saved because of His grace and mercy. We all deserve condemnation, death, and hell. Yet, for those of us who repent of our sins and trust in, rely on, and cling to what Christ has done - we receive salvation and are reconciled to God. 

God didn’t “hate” Esau for what He had done, but neither did he love Jacob for anything he had done. This is all an illustration of God’s sovereignty in salvation. 

Soli Deo Gloria!

Rob

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