Some verses in Scripture are difficult.

Jesus stated, “If anyone comes to Me and does not hate his father and mother, wife and children, brothers and sisters, yes, and his own life also, he cannot be My disciple:” (Luke 14:26). Does the Lord want us to hate?

Malachi recorded, “‘I have loved you,’ says the LORD. Yet you say, ‘In what way have You loved us?’ ‘Was not Esau Jacob’s brother?’ says the LORD. ‘Yet Jacob have I loved; but Esau have I hated…” (Malachi 1:2–3). Does God “hate” Esau?

The Greek word for hate is “misei” from the verb “miseo” and can mean malicious feelings toward others, or, in the case of Luke 14:26, “a preference for one over the other.” In other words, “Love a little less.” God wants us to love our loved ones and our life a little less when compared to our love for Him. Simply stated, “love God more than yourself or others.”

The Hebrew word translated hate is “soneh” which can also mean malicious feelings toward others or varying levels of dislike toward someone or something. However, in the case of Malachi 1:2–3, the prophet is emphasizing the sovereign choice of God rather than an intense emotion of dislike for Esau—God made a choice.

In other words, God chose Jacob over Esau to be the recipient of the promises of the Abrahamic Covenant (Genesis 12; 17; 18) which involves the promise of land, the coming of Messiah, and a blessing to those who bless the descendants of Abraham, Isaac (second born, promised son), and Jacob (second born). Culturally, the promises of inheritance should go to the firstborn (Ishmael and Esau); however, God chose the second born (Isaac and Jacob). God’s ways are not our ways; His thoughts are not our thoughts (Isaiah 55:8).

The world has a problem with the Abrahamic Covenant and, therefore, hates the Jew. They hate the Jew because they hate the God of the Jew. One day the world will blame Israel for its problems and will surround Israel, over the issue of Jerusalem and the systematic dividing of the Land (Joel 3:2; Zechariah 12:2–3; 14:2).

God chose a people, and a land, to give to the people!

A Chosen People

God chose Israel to be a special people who would be a witness to the world that He is real:

“For you are a holy people to the LORD your God; the LORD your God has chosen you to be a people for Himself, a special treasure above all the peoples on the face of the earth” (Deuteronomy 7:6).

“‘You are my witnesses,’ says the LORD, ‘and My servant whom I have chosen, that you may know and believe Me and understand that I am He. Before Me there was no God formed, nor shall there be after Me. I, even I, am the LORD, and besides Me there is no savior .’” (Isaiah 43:10–11).

A Chosen Land

God has a chosen land that is set at the center of the world. “Thus says the LORD God, ‘This is Jerusalem; I have set her in the midst of the nations and the countries all around her’” (Ezekiel 5:5).

The Land Belongs to God

“The land is Mine; for you are but strangers and sojourners with Me” (Leviticus 25:23).

God Gave the Land to Abraham’s Seed

“I will establish My covenant between Me and you and your descendants…I give to you…the land in which you are a stranger, all the land of Canaan, as an everlasting possession; and I will be their God” (Genesis 17:7–8).

Given to Isaac

“Sarah your wife shall bear you a son, and you shall call his name Isaac; I will establish My covenant with him for an everlasting covenant, and with his descendants after him” (Genesis 17:19).

Given to Jacob (Israel)

“The land which I gave Abraham and Isaac I give to you; and to your descendants after you I give this land.” (Genesis 35:12).

“‘For My thoughts are not your thoughts, Nor, are your ways My ways,’ says the LORD. ‘For as the heavens are higher than the earth, So are My ways higher than your ways and My thoughts than your thoughts’” (Isaiah 55:8–9).

*Taken from, Divine Mysteries: Concise and Thoughtful Ancient Biblical Wisdom, by Jeffrey D. Johnson, Forward by Jeffrey L. Seif, Wipf & Stock Publishers, Eugene, Oregon, 2019