Do As I Say - Not As I Do --God--

How many times have we heard it said that the phrase 'Do as I say - not as I do' is bad? How many times have we frowned upon such antics by parents? How many times have we as parents recognized that our children cannot be fooled by such a shallow mandate? How many times have we seen the hypocrisy in this statement?

And yet, that is exactly what Paul is suggesting we believe about God today in Romans 9. Paul is saying that God chooses to love or hate at will - and yet we (who are commanded to love one another without condition) are not permitted to question it.

Because the issue of predestination is so confusing, I wish to make some personal observations here.

First, Paul refers to Jacob and Esau as evidence that God "predestines" people: But before they were born, before they had done anything good or bad, she received a message from God. (This message shows that God chooses people according to his own purposes; he calls people, but not according to their good or bad works.) She was told, “Your older son will serve your younger son.” [Romans 9.11-12] Did God 'plan' Easu's bad character here or 'prophesy' it (original statement found in Genesis 25.23)? And then, as verse 13 continues: In the words of the Scriptures, “I loved Jacob, but I rejected Esau.” I think we need to be REALLY careful here! Verse 13 is a reference to Malachi 1.2-3 - IT HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH PREDESTINATION OF EASU'S CHARACTER! This is the writing of a prophet speaking 'for God' hundreds of years AFTER Esau! Paul has taken two statements from two different eras of time and combined them completely out of context to build 'predestination' theology.

Secondly, Paul refers to Pharoah: For the Scriptures say that God told Pharaoh, “I have appointed you for the very purpose of displaying my power in you and to spread my fame throughout the earth.” [Romans 9.17] One again, as I surveyed many different translations of the statement Paul is referencing (Exodus 9.16), I found that most, either directly or through footnote, worded this as if to indicate that God 'let' Pharoah live for God's purpose rather than 'predestining' Pharoah's life for this purpose. Again, it appears to me that Paul is taking some liberties in his presentation of all things scriptural.

I may feel totally different about this tomorrow, but today, it really seems to me that Paul is 'stretching' to make his case for predestination. And frankly, I cannot understand why anyone would want to argue such a point that makes God out to be such a hypocrite. And, I believe I am well-founded in making my case here referencing parenting skills (as far as the hypocrisy in the 'do as I say - not as I do' scenario) because Jesus appealed to our parenting sentiment in order to understand God when He stated that: “You parents—if your children ask for a loaf of bread, do you give them a stone instead? Or if they ask for a fish, do you give them a snake? Of course not! So if you sinful people know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your heavenly Father give good gifts to those who ask him. [Matthew 7.9-11]

We have a real dilemma here, don't we? Or, I suppose, at least "I" do.

Father, I have never actually chased down references to Paul's statements in Romans 9 before today. Having done so, I am not so sure that Paul actually represented You in all accuracy. Help me to receive nourishment and real Christian growth from Your Word - and not confusion.