The Children of Promise

Promise, Mercy, and the Stone in Zion · Romans 9

Story guide: Disclosed visual essay. God’s word has not failed: physical descent alone does not define the children of promise. Isaac is promised through Sarah, and the call concerning Jacob and Esau is announced before either has done good or bad, so the purpose rests on the One who calls rather than works.

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6But it is not as though the word of God has failed. For not all those from Israel are Israel.

7Nor is it the case that because they are Abraham’s offspring, they are all children. Rather, “In Isaac your offspring will be called.”

8That is, it is not the children of the flesh who are the children of God, but the children of the promise are counted as offspring.

9For this is the word of promise: “At this time I will come, and Sarah will have a son.”

10And not only that, but Rebekah also had conceived by one man, our father Isaac.

11For before they had yet been born or had done anything good or bad, so that God’s purpose according to election might remain,

12not from works but from the One who calls, it was said to her, “The older will serve the younger.”

13as it is written: “Jacob I loved, but Esau I hated.”

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