Romans 9:8-11 That is, it is not the children of the flesh who are children of God; rather, the children of the promise are counted as seed. For the word of promise is this: “At this time I will come, and Sarah shall have a son.” And not only this, but also Rebecca having twins, from one act with our father Isaac. Yet before the sons were even born and had not done anything good or bad – so that God’s purpose and choice might stand not because of works but because of Him who calls –
The four verses of today’s subject text tell the story of election by grace. Brings to mind this verse … Zechariah 4:6 Then he responded to me by saying, ‘This is the word of Adonai to Zerubbabel saying: “Not by might, nor by power, but by My Ruach!” says Adonai-Tzva’ot. The “word of Adonai” spoken by the Jewish prophet, Zechariah, (they were all Jewish) is the explanation of a vision which tells the same story as our subject verses from Romans.
Zechariah saw two olive trees (these are made of the wild “grafted in” branches and the – also “grafted back in” – natural branches) both feeding into one menorah (candelabra). Zechariah is prophesying that this is the result of God’s choice (and not man’s works). He is doing it by His sovereign will. Read on here