# 235 Saved By Grace

The Book of Genesis

Day 235

Ge 25:22 But the children struggled together within her; and she said, "If all is well, why am I like this?" So she went to inquire of the LORD.  23 And the LORD said to her: "Two nations are in your womb, Two peoples shall be separated from your body; One people shall be stronger than the other, And the older shall serve the younger."

“The older shall serve the younger.” Why? Because God says so! This is an example of pure grace!  It is unmerited favor shown to Jacob! It is how God has elected to save sinners like you and I!  This little snippet from the pregnancy of Rebekah will be used by the Holy Spirit later on in the Bible to explain salvation apart from works.

The Apostle Paul speaks of it in Ro 9:10,11, “And not only this, but when Rebecca also had conceived by one man, even by our father Isaac  11 (for the children not yet being born, nor having done any good or evil, that the purpose of God according to election might stand, not of works but of Him who calls),

In other words, neither child had done anything good or evil up to this point. The younger child (Jacob) had done nothing to earn God’s favor and the older child (Esau) had done nothing to earn God’s disfavor But the older shall serve the younger, and as it is written, “Jacob I have loved, but Esau I have hated, (the word hate here simply means to love less)

We might say, “That’s unfair and unrighteous God!” No it isn’t, for God told Moses I will have mercy on whomever I will have mercy, and I will have compassion on whomever I will have compassion.” So then it is not of him who wills, nor of him who runs, (works) but of God who shows mercy.”

Further, God’s method of election applies straight across the board, there are no exceptions, and therefore totally fair and totally righteous on His part!

This is mind-boggling stuff, and perhaps the best approach is to rejoice in the fact that He called YOU, and by His grace, (divine influence on your heart,) you heard and said yes! This understanding of God’s grace will lend itself to thankful living on your part, which in turn allows you to partner with Him and the Holy Spirit in bringing His saving grace to others as well.

We like to say that we “choose” to follow Christ, or that we “decided” to follow Jesus. But when you really pause and think it through, you can’t help but realize that your decision was made only by the supernatural working of the Holy Spirit, who brought you to that place where you were willing to go “all in,” with God!

 For it is by grace (divine influence on your heart) that you are saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God,  9 not of works, lest anyone should boast.