Son
Q: In Romans 9:13 it says "Jacob have I loved, but Esau have I hated." This also appears in Malachi 1:2-3. If God loves everyone why does he say he hated Esau?- Lara
A: Romans 9:13 and the verses before talk about election. Election is the fact that at the beginning, God predestined or chose those who would become saved (Or who will accept Christ). Not everyone will get saved, only those who are part of the elect of God. However, we don't know who are part of the elect unless they get saved. Therefore, the burden is still upon us to witness to others. We cannot say "OH THEY ARE NOT ELECT SO I WON'T WITNESS TO THEM." That would be wrong.
Now the verse in Romans emphasises the fact brought up in verse 11. The story of Jacob and Esau was used as an example of God's divine predestination (choosing). How God had chosen Jacob for a special purpose before he was born, but not Esau. Why does God choose some and not others? This question I have no answer for. It is God's divine, all knowing, sovereign will.
Now in the verse in Malachi (verse two) God is talking to the Israelites / Children of Israel. God has told them that he loved them. Yet, they have asked "in what way?" God spoke about how he chose Jacob to be the father of that nation Israel. How that he used Jacob to start for him a peculiar / special people who were to be set apart from the rest of the world. A people that God would bless. Now when the Gospel came, it came first to that people, the Jews. But God so loved the world, and he has paid the penalty for sin so even gentiles (non- Jews) can get saved. Rom. 1: 16.
One last thing, when we read here that God hated Esau we must keep in mind that with the Bible there are no contradictions. This phrase makes us think that God predestined Esau to live like he did which is completely false. The Bible says that God never tempts with evil. So keeping in mind that God loves the world, it is safe to say that this verse is not talking about Esau, but the life, sin, path, and the evil Esau followed after. Esau chose to disregard the blessing of God (birth-right). He literally said it was worthless when he was tempted with the bowl of lentil soup. He chose to live a life of sin, and marry women from the pagan nations around him. Therefore, God loved the world (the sinners) but hated the sin.- Timothy Taufeek