"Not as though the word of God hath taken none effect. For they are not all Israel, which are of Israel: Neither, because they are the seed of Abraham, are they all children: but, In Isaac shall thy seed be called. That is, They which are the children of the flesh, these are not the children of God: but the children of the promise are counted for the seed. For this is the word of promise, At this time will I come, and Sara shall have a son. And not only this; but when Rebecca also had conceived by one, even by our father Isaac; (For the children being not yet born, neither having done any good or evil, that the purpose of God according to election might stand, not of works, but of him that calleth;) It was said unto her, The elder shall serve the younger. As it is written, Jacob have I loved, but Esau have I hated."
Today's quote explains that not all the descendants of Abraham are Jews yet all of his descendants are still a part of the covenant God made with Abraham. Only the descendants of Isaac are actually Jews by blood. The descendants of Ishmael, the son of Rebecca, though always a part of God's covenant of redemption with Abraham, are not Jews.
This knowledge is important because it helps us understand that the Covenant that God made with Abraham was a covenant of faith to ALL his descendants and not a covenant that was exclusively with the Jews.
The latter part of today's quote demonstrates Sarah's hatred for Rebecca and Esau. Though God had already planned that her son Jacob, even though he was the younger of Isaac's sons, would inherit the birthright. ~
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