God's Choice of Israel

9 I am speaking the truth in Christ. My conscience confirms through the Holy Spirit that I am not lying when I say 2 that I have great sorrow and unceasing pain in my heart. 3 For I could wish that I myself were accursed, cut off from Christ for the sake of my brothers, my kinsmen according to the flesh. 4 They are Israelites, and to them belong the adoption as sons, the glory, the covenants, the giving of the law, the temple service, and the promises. 5 To them belong the patriarchs, and from them, according to the flesh, came the Christ, who is God over all, blessed forever. Amen.

6 It is not as though the word of God has failed. For not all Israelites truly belong to Israel, 7 and not all of Abraham's children are his true descendants, but, “Through Isaac yoʋr descendants will be counted.” 8 That is, it is not the children of the flesh who are the children of God; rather, the children of the promise are counted as descendants. 9 For this is what God promised: “About this time next year I will come, and Sarah will have a son.” 10 Not only that, but when Rebecca had conceived by one man, our father Isaac, 11 though her sons were not yet born and had done nothing good or evil, in order for the purpose of God's choice to stand (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 then shall we say? Is there injustice with God? Certainly not! 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 does not depend on human will or effort, but on God's mercy. 17 For the Scripture says to Pharaoh, “I have raised yoʋ up for the very purpose of showing my power in yoʋ, so that my name might be declared in all the earth.” 18 So then, God has mercy on whom he wants to have mercy, and he hardens whom he wants to harden.