John shares his unique views about life as it relates to the Bible.

One month ago, I submitted a Mountain Laurels article the day before we knew the outcome of the presidential election. Four weeks later, I'm writing this article once again without knowing who won. Be that as, it may, I can emphatically tell you...history will forever show that an election was stolen!

In 1760 B.C.
Both of the candidates were Jews. Both had parental pressure to win. One was a heavy favorite to win, a virtual shoe-in. The favorite was a man's man in a man's world--the apple of his father's eye; the challenger was a mama's boy.

The challenger knew he could not win in a fair fight, so he resorted to fraud...and won. The news that the election had been sabotaged surfaced immediately. The plot to steal the election was particularly odious because the illegitimate winner was aided in the scam by his own mother.

There were no election boards, no recounts, no ways to contest the election, no lawyers, no judges, no courts to listen to any appeals, no news talk radio hosts blasting the perpetrator, no national networks putting their civil rights violation spin on the event and no polling agencies incessantly taking the pulse of the people. The election...even though it was rigged...was over and the results were final. The winner...Jacob...with help from his mother...had cheated and defeated Esau, his twin brother.

But not everyone was surprised at the outcome. Earlier...much earlier...their mother heard a prediction the election would turn out in Jacob's favor:

The LORD said to her, "Two nations are in your womb, and two peoples from within you will be separated; one people will be stronger than the other, and the older will serve the younger." When the time came for her to give birth, there were twin boys in her womb. The first to come out was red, and his whole body was like a hairy garment; so they named him Esau. After this, his brother came out, with his hand grasping EsauÕs heel; so he was named Jacob. (Genesis 25:23-26 NIV)

Today, it wouldnÕt be a big deal for the older brother to serve the younger, but in this early Jewish culture, this was not normal. The older brother was supposed to receive the 'birthright,' a double share of the inheritance and a formal blessing (endorsement) from his father, literally naming him as next in line as the family patriarch. If God knew Jacob was such a cheat, then why didn't He prevent him from stealing the birthright that would make him one of the patriarchs of Israel? The answer is all about the 'election,' but not the same kind of election as the presidential election of 2000. This one is God's election. He is the only elector and He elects anyone He wishes to be His people, both Jews and Gentiles. It is one of the great 'mysteries' of the Bible. In his letter to the believers in Rome, Paul spoke of the 'election' 18 centuries later.

Yet, before the twins were born or had done anything good or bad--in order that God's purpose in election might stand: not by works but by him who calls--she was told, "The older will serve the younger." Just as it is written: "Jacob I loved, but Esau I hated." (Romans 9:11-13 NIV)

Even though Jacob was a cheat, it appears that God, with His divine foreknowledge, knew his heart, that one day he would follow Him, but that Esau never would. Although Esau should have been the rightful heir by birth, God elected Jacob. Paul knew that this whole issue of God's election would trouble some, so he continues:

What then shall we say? Is God unjust? Not at all! For he says to Moses, "I will have mercy on whom I have mercy, and I will have compassion on whom I have compassion." It does not, therefore, depend on man's desire or effort, but on God's mercy. (Romans 9:14-16 NIV)

Is there any good news in this for us? Absolutely. Unlike the merciless digging up the past of the candidates' lives, and their subsequent disqualification if anything questionable is found, God already knows all our failures and they do not disqualify us in His election. The only thing that does disqualify us is a hard heart toward God's mercy and forgiveness. If we accept His mercy, we win the election!

Two important things to remember:
1. We are all candidates in God's election.
2. We can't change the rules after the election. So...don't blow it and then hope for a recount!