In Malachi, the last book in the Old Testament God says” Jacob I have loved and Esau I have hated.” I know no explanation for the idea that God hated Esau. That seems so out of character for the God I serve today though every generation of humans characteristically behaved badly enough to warrant God’s anger. I know a man that could explain it in a more satisfactory way that I can, but the quote seems so out of place.
In contrast, The Gospel of Luke quotes Jesus saying “Father forgive them, they know not what they are doing”. That means the Old Testament closes with God hating Esau and early on in the New Testament Jesus asked God to forgive you and I and Esau too. That is very lovely to me.
In this picture the Old Testament speaks of how we angered God and the New Testament Jesus is asking god to forgive us all as he is dying from his murder. That is a complete and total reversal to Malachi’s proclamation’
IF I am forgiven for whatever responsibility my sins contributed to the murder of Jesus. if I am forgiven for that then whatever else I have sinfully done I am OK. In a way me being totally forgiven is beyond my brain and has to be accepted by faith.
George Caywood 