God’s Gracious Election of Israel

⁶ But it is not as though the word of God has failed.^(A) For not all who are descended from Israel are Israel.^{(B) 7} Neither are they all children because they are Abraham’s descendants.^[a](C) On the contrary, your offspring will be traced^[b] through Isaac.^{(D)[c] 8} That is, it is not the children by physical descent^[d] who are God’s children,^(E) but the children of the promise^(F) are considered to be the offspring. ⁹ For this is the statement of the promise: At this time I will come, and Sarah will have a son.^{(G)[e] 10} And not only that,^(H) but also Rebekah received a promise when she became pregnant^[f](I) by one man, our ancestor Isaac. ¹¹ For though her sons had not been born yet or done anything good or bad, so that God’s purpose according to election might stand—^{(J) 12} not from works but from the One who calls—she was told: The older will serve the younger.^{(K)[g] 13} As it is written: I have loved Jacob, but I have hated Esau.^(L)[h]