Does God love every person equally?

Question

Consider the following Scripture:

Romans 9:13 (New International Version)

13Just as it is written: "Jacob I loved, but Esau I hated."

Answer 1

As expected, only a few people actually paid any attention to the verse you displayed, nor did they read it in its context. The vast majority played Mormon and said that God loves everybody equally (which is completely unbiblical), nor played Pelagius and said that God hated Esau because of what he did (or forsaw what he'd do). We need that "Ahhhnkh" WRONG buzzer sound now.

Here's the right answer, from God's Word:
Romans 9 ...
11b Yet, BEFORE THE TWINS WERE BORN OR HAD DONE ANYTHING GOOD OR BAD—in order that God's purpose in election might stand: 12not by works but by him who calls—she was told, "The older will serve the younger." 13Just as it is written: "Jacob I loved, but Esau I hated."

In anticipation of the fleshly response to this, Paul cuts off the objection at the root:
14What then shall we say? Is God unjust? Not at all! 15For he says to Moses,
"I will have mercy on whom I have mercy,
and I will have compassion on whom I have compassion." 16I T DOES NOT, THEREFORE, DEPEND ON MAN'S DESIRE OR EFFORT, BUT ON GOD'S MERCY. 17For the Scripture says to Pharaoh: "I raised you up FOR THIS VERY PURPOSE, that I might display my power in you and that my name might be proclaimed in all the earth." 18THEREFORE GOD HAS MERCY ON WHOM HE WANT TO HAVE MERCY, AND HE HARDENS WHOM HE WANTS TO HARDEN.

Hey, can it be any clearer than that? Evidently not, because here comes the other objection(s) ... "That's not fair!!!" But Paul anticipates this and responds thusly:
19One of you will say to me: "Then why does God still blame us? For who resists his will?" 20But who are you, O man, to talk back to God? "Shall what is formed say to him who formed it, 'Why did you make me like this?' " 21Does not the potter have the right to make OUT OF THE SAME LUMP of clay some pottery for noble purposes and some for common use?

Notice how Paul firstly puts us in our place by saying we have no right to question the Almighty in the first place, seeing as we are sinners, then he makes it clear that in light of the fact that we ARE ALL SINNERS, justly deserving his wrath and curse, then God has the right as the POTTER to make out of the SAME LUMP (not two different lumps, one good and one bad, but the same, sinful lump) one "vessel" for goodness, and the other for indignation.

The rest of Scripture teaches as well that God, though he does care for all his creation, does not love each and every individual the same. If this were so, then he'd reveal himself to all humans in the same way. But the OT and the NT, along with our own human experience teach us quite clearly that this is not the case. God reveals himself to his elect, those whom he chose BEFORE the foundation of the world, and before they've done anything good or bad.

God saves sinners. God doesn't help sinners save themselves.

Answer 2

Hated: Actually God made provision for Esau (see Gen.27:39, 36 Deut. 23:7). Hated is an idom where the opposite is used to express a lesser degree. For example, Gen 29:30 says Jacob loved Rachel more than Leah, but the next verse (literally translated) says that Leah was hated.
What Paul is saying is that Esau was not the object of God's electing purpose.

Answer 3

When this statement was made, it was in reference to the nations of Israel and Edom rather than to the individual brothers. God chose Jacob to continue the family line of the faithful because he knew his heart was for God. But, he did not exclude Esau from knowing and loving him. Keep in mind the kind of God we worship. He is sovereign, he is not arbitrary.. and in all things he works for our good so he is trustworthy. When we understand these qualities of God, we know that his choices are good even if we don;t understand all his reasons.

The above words are a direct quote from the Life Application Bible.

We do not really know why God sometimes does things that may seem unfair or illogical to us and many non believers see God as being cruel and arbitrary, but those of us who have a very personal relationship with him 24/7 know and understand that he is indeed more knowledgable than we are, and that in the long run, His choices have always been for the betterment of all mankind. After all, the result of Jacob being the forerunner of the following generations eventually led us to Jesus. Keep in mind that the choice God made...and the writings that included this statement reinterated in Romans was written approximately 450 years prior to the birth of Christ in Malachi 1:2-3 (the often referred to Jewish portion of the Christian Bible.) Even then, God already knew what must come. God Bless.

Answer 4

I have learned many things about God through being a parent. You teach, model, explain........children sometimes just don't benefit from that wisdom--- sufferring through a decision is the way they learn. (Well, you hope they will admit the bad decision and not go that way again.) Other children- because of respect, fear of disappointing a parent, or understanding that an older person's wisdom is worth following is all they need to make a good decision.
Saying that, I believe that we are like God in that we love all our children; but we favor the ones that follow what we say to do. I will definitely show extra attention to a child when he/she is doing the right thing. They one that is not, does not get the extra good attention.
I believe that God loves every person and has demonstrated that clearly. He obviously shows favor to the ones that follow what He wants them to do. I think that he has made us in His image, and we have all the feelings He does. Now, I understand a little bit how frustrated He must be- I am surprised that He only flooded the world one time!

Answer 5

under certain conditions and at certain times it is proper to hate. “There is . . . a time to love and a time to hate.” (Ec 3:1, 8) Even of Jehovah it is said that he hated Esau. (Mal 1:2, 3) But this cannot be attributed to any arbitrariness on God’s part. Esau proved himself unworthy of Jehovah’s love by despising his birthright and selling it and hence also the divine promises and blessings attached thereto. Moreover, he purposed to kill his brother Jacob. (Ge 25:32-34; 27:41-43; Heb 12:14-16) God also hates lofty eyes, a false tongue, hands that are shedding innocent blood, a heart fabricating hurtful schemes, feet that are in a hurry to run to badness, a false witness, anyone sending forth contentions among brothers, in fact, everyone and everything standing in complete opposition to Jehovah and his righteous laws.—Pr 6:16-19; De 16:22; Isa 61:8; Zec 8:17; Mal 2:16.

Answer 6

well to me the scripture indicates that love is God's covenant word. its not referring to an emotion, so hate is not referring to an emotion.

Jesus said that God's mercy is given equally to both the good and evil, making the rain to water the fields for both... so God is not selective or whimsical according to a particular mood like people can be

so i believe that the statement quoted in romans 9:13 is God's foreknowledge of what both Jacob and Esau would each do concerning their covenant status.

Jacob coveted the covenant blessing while Esau easily gave it up in exchange for a bowl of soup

if Esau had valued the covenant blessing the story and Esau's life could have been much different
.

Answer 7

That is an excellent question. I am not a Biblical scholar, but I choose to believe that God is fair and just and loves each one of us more than we can ever comprehend. As a parent I love each of my children equally. However, at times any one of them can test my patience and for a short period of time I may not love them the same. It all comes out in the wash so to speak. If I love equally, then God can do no less.

Answer 8

I say that God does love everyone equally. If you look at John 3:16. God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son... God does love everyone equally but, He does not know everyone equally. God loves you as much as He loves me because He died for both of us and everyone else.

That verse 9:13 really refers to Jacob being blessed and Esau was not. Remember when Jacob tricked his father into giving him the blessing.

I hope this helped God bless you.

Answer 9

Hated: Actually God made provision for Esau (see Gen.27:39, 36 Deut. 23:7). Hated is an idom where the opposite is used to express a lesser degree. For example, Gen 29:30 says Jacob loved Rachel more than Leah, but the next verse (literally translated) says that Leah was hated.

Answer 10

God love all the same. Christ died for all. Look at it from the Message.
Romans 9:10-13 (The Message)
10-13And that's not the only time. To Rebecca, also, a promise was made that took priority over genetics. When she became pregnant by our one-of-a-kind ancestor, Isaac, and her babies were still innocent in the womb—incapable of good or bad—she received a special assurance from God. What God did in this case made it perfectly plain that his purpose is not a hit-or-miss thing dependent on what we do or don't do, but a sure thing determined by his decision, flowing steadily from his initiative. God told Rebecca, "The firstborn of your twins will take second place." Later that was turned into a stark epigram: "I loved Jacob; I hated Esau."

Answer 11

I would liken God's love to that of a parent, who offers his child every opportunity to do the right thing. But if the child persists in some horrific criminal career, the parent does not stop loving him. Rather the parent hates what the child does and knows he must be sent to prison. The child and the parent must endure permanent separation, which is heartbreaking.

God is endlessly patient with his creation, which he does love. That He proved through His Son. But He will not force His love upon us. Jesus knocks at the door. He does not throw it open. We must open the door. He loves us equally, but knows that many of us will refuse the new covenant and will ultimately be separated from Him, which is heartbreaking.