The Apostle Paul elucidates this profound truth in his letter to the Romans, merging the testimonies from Genesis and Malachi: “Yet Rebekah had from our father Isaac, two children, not yet born and having done neither good nor evil, so that God’s purpose in election might stand. It was said to her that the older would serve the younger, as it is written, ‘Jacob I have loved, but Esau I have hated.’” This reference applies to both the book of Genesis and the prophet Malachi, signifying that God's love for Jacob existed even before his birth, along with His disdain for Esau’s lineage.
Edom may claim, “It is true that by God’s anger we have been devastated, but we shall rebuild,” yet the prophetic word is clear: “When they build, I will destroy," and their perpetual desolation shall serve as evidence of My wrath. Thus, God shows His animosity toward Esau while demonstrating His affectionate favor toward Jacob. After their downfall and transformation in the desert, you will see with your own eyes and proclaim, “Let the Lord be exalted above the boundaries of Israel,” allowing you to recognize the blessings God has bestowed upon you in light of your brother's afflictions.
The Jews mistakenly believe that at the world’s end, Edom—interpreted as the Romans—will fall, transferring dominion to Israel upon the collapse of Roman power. We have mentioned this to clarify past events, but now, let us explore a deeper spiritual understanding. Israel symbolizes the mind or the soul that seeks God, and desires to comprehend the reasons for God's love. The Lord reveals that both Jacob and Esau emerged from the same lineage, illustrating how virtues and vices arise from the same source, determined by our free will.
Vices often begin in youth, yet maturity provides the opportunity for correction. Esau, the elder brother, embodies beastly and violent traits, reveling in hunting and wilderness, while Jacob, in contrast, is gentle, modest, and leads a simple life. God sets boundaries around Edom, a land associated with earthly desires and violence, and these boundaries will be eternal. If shameless wickedness attempts to revive what has been destroyed by divine decree, the Lord positions Himself as an adversary to such restoration.
Ultimately, when all hostility is vanquished, the eyes of Israel and all saints will behold the glory of God, exclaiming, “Let the Lord be magnified in those who contemplate Him.” The love and hatred of God stem from His foreknowledge or His response to actions, for God loves all creation and harbors no hatred toward it, especially revealing His love for those opposed to vice. Conversely, God detests efforts to reconstruct what He has dismantled. His hatred is depicted in human terms, along with His sorrow and wrath, so that we may be inspired to reject what He finds detestable.
THEOSIS