Choice

⁶ But it’s not as though God’s word has failed. Not all who are descended from Israel are part of Israel.⁷ Not all of Abraham’s children are called Abraham’s descendants, but instead your descendants will be named through Isaac. ⁸ That means it isn’t the natural children who are God’s children, but it is the children from the promise who are counted as descendants. ⁹ The words in the promise were: A year from now I will return, and Sarah will have a son. ¹⁰ Not only that, but also Rebecca conceived children with one man, our ancestor Isaac. ¹¹ When they hadn’t been born yet and when they hadn’t yet done anything good or bad, it was shown that God’s purpose would continue because it was based on his choice. ¹² It wasn’t because of what was done but because of God’s call. This was said to her: The older child will be a slave to the younger one.¹³ As it is written, I loved Jacob, but I hated Esau. (Romans 9:6-13, CEB)

So how are you included in the promise?

Is it that you are a descendent of Abraham? According to the Hebrew Scripture that is what you need to be a part of the promise, but here in Romans, what does Paul say?

Paul says it is not because you are a natural child of God but that you are chosen and counted. And who chooses?

It isn’t anything we do or can do to get counted. It is all by God’s call. God is the one who chooses.

So rest in the promise that God has chosen you. And know you are a part of the promise.