9:1 Paul begins speaking of humanity's departure from God. Keep in mind how impersonal that word can be: God. Instead, remember that the word is encompassing our Creator who deeply and uniquely loves us.
9:2 Paul expresses the grief inside of him that our Creator's children have left Him. It's easy to relate to Paul. It isn't that Paul wishes for people to be strictly religious, it's that he can see how badly and consistently people suffer all because they lost or rejected their spiritual-foundation. When we grow accustomed to having a relationship with God, it's difficult for us to watch others stumble without one. We receive so much guidance and love, we see it abundantly offered, and yet juxtaposed it, we watch people walk right by it.
Our compassion wants to see others thrive, as we have with Him. Yet we know that our path and love and joy of life comes only from the place they are neglecting to look.
9:3-5 Paul so vehemently wishes that he was able to guide and encourage people to return to their spiritual creator. Even if it meant sacrificing himself, his whole life and all of his energy for the benefit of others, he would do it. It's important to Paul because once having developed an honest, deep, spiritual-connection with God, it is like a rebirth, a reawakening. It's not a cliche, we truly wake up each day and live through each word and breath and moment with a new clarity, a purposeful and compassionate perspective. We wake up with the perseverance to go through trials of testing patience and honesty and kindness. We review your "previous" life as if it were lived in a slumber; as if we were ambling around in the dark, clumsily walking and thinking. And essentially, that's exactly what we were doing.
The "fathers" are the patriarchs of the original 12 tribes, God's children, now spread throughout the world.
9:6 And yet, even though we are each a child of God, we must spiritual-awaken to that fact. Not all of God's children are compassionate, just and kind and therefore their qualities disable them from truly being a part of the family; like withered leaves on an otherwise healthy tree, they fall off.
9:7 Similarly, even though we can trace our genealogy back to Abraham, our spirits still must be in tune with the prophet, Jesus, who also came through Abraham's lineage. Jesus taught us of our home, of the spiritual and compassionate nature of our creator. We cannot remain a branch or leaf on God's tree unless we operate and express the same way He does, the way Jesus brought and taught to us.
For example: a tree grows in soil with water and sunlight. The tree cannot grow if it has no soil, no water or sunlight. A spiritual child of God grows in light (His wisdom), love and compassion. The child cannot grow without those things. We may be a leaf on the tree from birth but if we are nourished by something else, something different from the tree, we cannot scientifically remain with it and we subsequently break off (not as a punishment but as a logical conclusion based on the components). Meaning that if what makes a person feel passionate and alive is power, arrogance or greed, they would be nourished by what nourishes God or His children. They wither and become nothing because God has created life and that which sustains it. There is no place in existence where He has allowed injustice to thrive, or exist without mortality.
9:8 People who are passionate about becoming wealthy and prominent and powerful here on earth neglect to prepare themselves for the life which follows. Everything we become here determines who we are there. Our life's work is to adapt to our spiritual lives beyond this one and to do that, we must grow in compassion, faith, and humility.
God's children must become familiar with their home, even if they do it unknowingly. A kind, generous, and just person has become familiar with their spiritual home even if they (think they) identify as agnostic or even atheist.
9:9-11 From the beginning, God has expertly created and planned for His children to be born into the world. Throughout humanity and each of our births, God has divinely implemented His purpose into our world. God is generous with us and trusting in us: He has given us the blessed privilege of working with Him in implementing His purpose into the world. He knows which of us His children will become passionate about fulfilling their own purpose for the betterment of others. He knows your heart*; He's waiting for you to seek Him and begin using it* purposefully.
9:12-13 Paul redirects our attention to Genesis. He explains to us that Jacob and Esau were brothers, both children of God. The difference was that Esau did not care about his father, or anything that his father offered him. (Symbolism: Some children do not care about God and even if they knew 100% that he existed, would reject him because their hearts oppose him). Jacob, however, loved his father and felt blessed and privileged to be his son. Jacob loved what his father stood for and was passionate and determined in ensuring that those values thrives.
We are all children of God (siblings), but we only remain in the family if we are willing participants of compassion. If we decide that our "father," our foundation is going to be based on and made up of qualities and values opposing God's compassion, we abdicate and join a new family: nonexistence.
9:14 God's children have imperfections on earth but He has none. He is perfectly, humbly, expertly aligned in compassion and nourishment and promotion of life and justice. Part of His perfection is that He has given us the opportunity to fail. It sounds funny but by giving us the opportunity to fail, He has given us the ability to become who we want to be and who we truly are. If He programmed us in perfection, we wouldn't be authentic. Our love, kindness, or justice would be false and forced.
God has the wisdom, courage and perseverance, the mercy to accept us as we truly are. He has given us space to roam and create, grow and learn and become with complete freedom. Sometimes there are bad-apples; but they've made their own decisions, freely. Therefore, bad apples aren't bad because they have inherited it, they are bad because they've been given the freedom of the decision to choose to be.
In this verse of this study and in the Old Testament, it is expressed that Esau is hated. Creation itself opposes Esau because Esau is a symbol of destruction. This relationship between the two: Creation and Destruction is simple logic: one denies the other. Esau was hated because he had, and symbolized, an outlook on life which was selfish, apathetic, unkind. It isn't unrighteous for creation to hate destruction, it's just logic.
9:15-16 This is an assurance of God's will. Those who receive His mercy and compassion are decidedly, divinely chosen to receive it. Those who do not are similarly winnowed; each heart and spirit is known and understood precisely and therefore can only receive what is deserving.
Meaning that compassion and direction and life is given to the kind and to the faithful. No matter how sly and conniving a human is, God knows their truth and they are inevitably thwarted. No un-welcomed soul slips cleverly into His family.
9:17 It is a comfort, a blessing and a privileged to have God work through and with you. We have the opportunity to impact the world, to be living evidence of the life beyond and superseding this one. We have the privilege of contributing to life: nourishing, saving, creating and promoting it. We must have a spiritual connection in order to receive the blueprints, the plans, the compassion to do its divine work.
9:18 When we give Him permission, we are expertly molded. We grow and learn through experience and instruction. He opens our mind, enables our bravery, creates the specific circumstances we need to do miraculous things.
9:19-21 Many people blame God or reject the idea of God because they dislike that there is suffering and evil among humanity. Is it fair to blame and reject God for giving us the freedom to become who we want to rather than who we are forced to? He has allowed us to grow imperfectly not out of mistake or apathy but out of love, consideration and fairness.
He allows us to become who we are and sometimes people make unacceptable choices. When those unacceptable choices are made the come with a condition: you may do what you want, but only compassion is tolerated following this life. Our actions here determine our ability to adapt to life there. If a person decides to make a decision which disables them from adapting to the spiritual life, that is not a punishment, that is the subsequent result of their choice.
9:22-24 Our experience on earth enables us to understand and perceive deeply. We learn the ramifications of injustice as well as the joy of compassion. God suffers and endures the pain of humanity's mistakes and poor choices (and the pain it causes others) so that we have the opportunity to become informed. Through His faithful children, He has vessels through which to combat injustice on the earth and to bring light to darkness.
9:25-26 Each person on earth is welcomed as His family. Each person on the earth is welcomed to study under and with Him. He reaches all people, all cultures, all types of spirituality. He reaches people in an infinite amount of ways: through art and thought and dance and every hobby or passion or interest a person has. The only requirement is that, no matter what our connection with Him comes through, we are listening for Him.
9:27 The children of Israel: do not mistake this word "Israel" to mean the people in the country of Israel. Many, many years ago, the early tribes of people on the earth were grouped together under this name as the children of God. These children (we) are now scattered throughout the earth, but we each are still members of the original tribes and families. And, as this verse tells us, there have been many, many, many of us born into the earth throughout time.
9:28 Very swiftly, fairly, and easily God will divide the humans of the earth up: the compassionate will join Him, the evil will be extinguished. He has been and is watching, patiently, studiously, and with precise focus. When it is time for earth to be renewed and the children to be gathered, He is ready.
9:29 Without God's spirit in the earth and among humanity we, collectively, would truly be lost. He has given us the perception and emotion and expression to grow and learn on earth toward betterment and compassion. Without Him we are chaotic; without Him (the values that He stands for and is) the world would be bereft.
9:30-33 No human on earth, regardless of their faith or religion has superiority over another. God has given Himself to all people, through many mediums and avenues. Even if you are a descendant of Moses himself, if your heart is not compassionate and your spirit is not focused in justice, you have no claim to God's family. Likewise, even if your entire line of ancestors were evil and you have never been to church or temple or any religious institution ever in your entire life... if you have a compassionate heart and you promote and defend compassion and justice (without even realizing you are spiritual) you are welcomed and cherished as a member of the family.
