Martin Q. Blank said:
Maybe we're reading a different Bible? These are the texts in question:
Rom. 9:10 And not only so, but also when Rebekah had conceived children by one man, our forefather Isaac, 11 though they were not yet born and had done nothing either good or badin order that God's purpose of election might continue, not because of works but because of him who calls 12 she was told, "The older will serve the younger." 13 As it is written, "Jacob I loved, but Esau I hated."
Mal. 1:2 "I have loved you," says the Lord. But you say, "How have you loved us?" "Is not Esau Jacob's brother?" declares the Lord. "Yet I have loved Jacob 3 but Esau I have hated. I have laid waste his hill country and left his heritage to jackals of the desert." 4 If Edom says, "We are shattered but we will rebuild the ruins," the Lord of hosts says, "They may build, but I will tear down, and they will be called 'the wicked country,' and 'the people with whom the Lord is angry forever.'" 5 Your own eyes shall see this, and you shall say, "Great is the Lord beyond the border of Israel!"
If this is a gotcha, its targeted towards those lacking church context and comprehension outside of the orthodox church here. You're not the first person to bring up the idea of 'God hates Esau-see see see. Its right here in Malachi.
https://blogs.ancientfaith.com/wholecounsel/2018/10/23/jacob-i-have-loved-esau-i-have-hated/This blog goes through all of it. Main points:
-The story of Jacob and Esau is foundational to the people of Israel and shows the first divergence due to free will to reject Gods covenant made to Abraham. Isaac dutifully followed God and lived his life accordingly.
-Jacob (generally) does what is asked of him by God to establish a lineage. Esau (generally) does not. He takes two Hittite wives and is very flippant about the commandments of God to himself and his family.
-Malachi is written a thousand years after Jacob/Esau lived. It is a reflection of how the lineages played out over time with blessings for the faithful and devoted and desolation for those who rejected God.
-These are temporal punishments of this earth, the left hand of God to drive about our repentance. This is not nation sorting into the nicer part of Sheol versus the abyss nor final judgement.
-The reconciliation is a huge part of the story as both brothers bore different paths. They had enmity between themselves based upon how each of the brothers acted in front of God.
-Paul is bringing this up as pointed reflection of what the church of Rome is facing when he is writing this letter.
