ROMANS 9:10

“And not only that, but there was also Rebekah, when she had conceived twins by one man, our father Isaac;”

I have a ministry colleague whose younger daughter is getting married next month. He has one other daughter who is older. I joked with him recently if he was going to pull a “Laban” and give the older daughter to his future son-in-law and then his younger. He said his younger daughter would not be happy about that. Well, I guess not, lol. But it is normal for the older to marry before the younger, at least in most families.

Why do I bring up that illustration? Because Paul refers to another one of God’s contrary-to-custom decisions today. It would have been the custom for God to choose Esau over Jacob. After all, Esau was the first-born twin. But God chose the younger. Just as He turned from the Jewish nation, which He had chosen, to the Gentiles, Paul had been given the task of preaching the Gospel to these foreign nations. I am sure, at first, Saul (now named Paul) wondered about this decision. But he was faithful to God’s calling.

APPLICATION

How do we apply this verse to our lives? I think it’s clear. We cannot assume anything about God’s plans for our lives. We should never think God will choose the way of least resistance. In fact, it is usually just the opposite. He puts us on paths that will test and try us to build us into followers of Jesus who can withstand the attacks that will come upon us.

The Expositor’s Greek Testament says regarding God’s decision to choose Jacob over Esau, “this was done by God of His sovereign freedom:” Who can argue against God? Who knows the mind of God? In Job 40:8, God answers Job with a strong rebuke. “‘Will you really nullify My judgment? Will you condemn Me so that you may be justified?’” Of course, Job receives that rebuke and repents of his self-righteousness. He yields to the authority of God over his life, whatever that brings.

Will you allow God to do the noncustomary thing in your life? Will you allow Him to stretch you? Stretching is not comfortable to me, physically or spiritually. But I know it is good for me in both instances. Stretching physically protects my muscles and joints as I exercise. Stretching spiritually will also build up my “faith muscle” and give me the power to do whatever God has for me. But you have to trust God to lead you. Will you do that?

I have to be honest, Father. I don’t like the stretches You give me sometimes. But I am thankful for the end results.

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