Paul teaches us in Romans 9:11 that God chose to hate Esau, “though they were not yet born and had done nothing either good or bad.” We tend to think this is unfair. What is often forgotten, however, is that both Esau and Jacob belong to the rebellious human race that fell in Adam, their hearts were deceitful and desperately sick (Jeremiah 17:9), and their best works were like filthy rags (Isaiah 64:6). If fairness equates with getting what one deserves, then any unfairness with God lies in his love toward Jacob, not in his hatred of Esau. Esau got what he deserved; Jacob got what he did not deserve.
3 but Esau I have hated. I have laid waste his hill country and left his heritage to jackals of the desert.”