⁶ Now it is not as though the word of God has failed. For not all Israelis truly belong to Israel, ⁷ and not all of Abraham’s descendants are his true descendants. On the contrary, “It is through Isaac that descendants will be named for you.”^{[a] 8} That is, it is not merely the children born through natural descent who were regarded as God’s children, but it is the children born through the promise who were regarded as descendants. ⁹ For this is the language of the promise: “At this time I will return, and Sarah will have a son.”^{[b] 10} Not only that, but Rebecca became pregnant by our ancestor Isaac. ¹¹ Yet before their children^[c] had been born or had done anything good or bad (so that God’s plan of election might continue to operate ¹² according to his calling and not by actions), Rebecca^[d] was told, “The older child will serve the younger one.”^{[e] 13} So it is written, “Jacob I loved, but Esau I hated.”^[f]