God’s Sovereign Will

Can God accomplish His sovereign will even through our failures? The story of Jacob and Esau says yes—His purpose was set before either twin was born.

“Your brother came deceitfully, and he has taken away your blessing” (Genesis 27:35).

Following the plan of his mother, Rebekah, Jacob stole the blessing that rightfully belonged to his twin brother. As a result, Jacob became branded forever as a man of deceit. But the Bible also presents another side to his story: It challenges us to look at these events from God’s perspective and realize He had a plan in all of it.

Jacob’s life unfolded in an unusual way. In that culture, the family blessing normally was given by the father to the eldest son, who, in this case, was Esau. However, before the twins were even born, God told Rebekah that “the older shall serve the younger” (Genesis 25:23). She didn’t know how it would happen, but God’s will would be done!

In the book of Romans, Paul expanded on this passage, explaining that before the twins were born and before they had done anything “either good or bad,” God had established His “purpose of election,” demonstrating that He had a higher purpose. He declared, “The older will serve the younger” and even “Jacob I loved, but Esau I hated” (Romans 9:6–13).

Although this calling may seem mysterious to us, the story of Isaac’s blessing of Jacob illustrates that God uses events and people to accomplish His sovereign purposes. This is true for the nations of the world, and it’s true for you. Trust your life to God. He is the Sovereign Lord!

Reflection Question: Do you trust that God has a plan for your life and the world?

Frequently Asked Questions

What does the story of Jacob and Esau teach about God’s will?

Though Jacob obtained the blessing through deceit, God had already declared “the older shall serve the younger” before the twins were born (Genesis 25:23). It shows that God accomplishes His sovereign purposes even through flawed people and circumstances.

How does Romans 9 connect to Jacob and Esau?

Paul cites Jacob and Esau to illustrate God’s “purpose of election”—that His choices flow from His sovereign will and higher purpose, not human merit, since the decision was made before either had done good or bad.