Romans 9:10-16

10This son was our ancestor Isaac. When he married Rebekah, she gave birth to twins.

11But 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;

12he calls people, but not according to their good or bad works.) She was told, “Your older son will serve your younger son.”

13In the words of the Scriptures, “I loved Jacob, but I rejected Esau.”

14Are we saying, then, that God was unfair? Of course not!

15For God said to Moses, “I will show mercy to anyone I choose, and I will show compassion to anyone I choose.”

16So it is God who decides to show mercy. We can neither choose it nor work for it.