Rom 9:10-24 | TNotes | STEP | Summary for Rom 9:10-11: 9:10-11 she gave birth to twins: No human circumstances differentiated Isaac’s sons, Jacob and Esau. Not only were they born to the same mother, but they were also conceived at the same time. Instead, Paul argues, the difference between them was of God’s choosing.

Summary for Rom 9:10-11: 9:10-11 ^a she gave birth to twins: No human circumstances differentiated Isaac’s sons, Jacob and Esau. Not only were they born to the same mother, but they were also conceived at the same time. Instead, Paul argues, the difference between them was of God’s choosing.
9:12 ^b “Your older son will serve your younger son”: God spoke these words to Rebekah before the twins were born (Gen 25:23 ^c). As the older of the twins, Esau was Isaac’s natural heir. But Esau sold his birthright to Jacob and ceded his position to his brother in fulfillment of God’s promise.
9:13 ^d “I loved Jacob, but I rejected (literally hated) Esau”: Paul quotes Mal 1:2-3 ^e, where Jacob, whose other name is Israel (Gen 32:28 ^f), stands for the nation of Israel, and Esau stands for Edom. Here, Paul is referring to them as individuals. Just as love can sometimes express a choice, so hate can express rejection. The story of Jacob and Esau illustrates how the sovereign God chooses his own people.
Summary for Rom 9:14-16: 9:14-16 ^g God’s choice is not unfair because he owes nothing to his sinful creatures (see study note on 4:4-5).
9:15 ^h This quotation from Exod 33:19 ⁱ focuses on God’s nature: God is free from obligation or constraint in bestowing mercy on people.
9:17 ^j God told Pharaoh: At God’s direction, Moses had asked Pharaoh to let the people of Israel leave Egypt for their own land (Exod 9:16 ^k). When Pharaoh stubbornly refused, God displayed miracle after miracle to convince Israel, Pharaoh, and the Egyptians of God’s power and authority (see Exod 6:7 ^l; 7:5 ^m; 9:14-16 ⁿ; 14:31 ^o).
9:18 ^p he chooses to harden the hearts of others so they refuse to listen: Pharaoh refused to let Israel go because his heart was hardened. God hardened Pharaoh’s heart (Exod 9:12 ^q), and Pharaoh hardened his own heart (Exod 8:15 ^r).
Summary for Rom 9:20-21: 9:20-21 ^s See Isa 29:16 ^t; 45:9-10 ^u.
Summary for Rom 9:24-26: 9:24-26 ^v God was free to select people from the Jews who would have a true spiritual relationship with him; similarly, he was also free to choose some from the Gentiles to be saved as well. Paul uses the prophecy of Hosea to reinforce his point. Hosea predicted that God would renew his mercy to the ten northern tribes that had rebelled against God and were under his judgment. Paul saw a principle that applies to Gentiles as well.

• Those who were not my people: See study note on 10:19.