God HATES Esau?!?!?!


So there is a passage in the Bible that has always annoyed me.  It is found in Malachi and it is where God says, "Jacob I loved but Esau I hated."

HATED?

Really?!?!?  A so-called "loving" God proclaiming that He hated one of His creations...how can that be?

But in Bible study last week I learned something...  

The word "hate" as it was written here in the Hebrew language is different than how we understand it today in the Western world.  

Today, HATE is the opposite of LOVE.  But the original word for "hate" here is Sane (pronounced saw-nay), and in the Hebrew language that existed centuries before the written letters known today - the Hebrew pictograph for this word is literally a thorn and a seed.

This "thorn seed" combination was understood to mean it caused one who encountered it to turn away lest they be hurt.

In Biblical times, thorny vines were used as fences to protect sheep with the understanding that thorns would cause pain for anyone or anything trying to get at the sheep, and thus the thorns would serve as a sort of hedge of protection.

So, the ancient Hebrew view of hate was more about being hurt or wounded by something, because of love being involved.  

Now - "...Yet I have loved Jacob, but Esau I have hated..." (Malachi 1:2,3) makes a lot more sense.

As does the verse - "For I hate divorce, says the God of Israel." - Malachi 2:16

In both instances - the word HATE is God saying He understands these things will cause Him hurt.

How interesting.

Now - take what you know about thorns and remember Jesus - a crown of thorns placed on His head.  

Although our loving Savior knew the pain he would endure by exchanging His life for ours - he did NOT hate the cross.  Instead - he endured the thorns and went willingly forward.  A ransom for us all.


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