KwabaseRoma 9:6-18

Akusikho okungathi izwi likaNkulunkulu liphuthile. Ngokuba asibo bonke abavela ku-Israyeli abangabakwa-Israyeli; nakuba beyinzalo ka-Abrahama, bonke abasibo abantwana, kodwa kuthiwa: “Ngo-Isaka iyakubizwa inzalo yakho.” Lokhu kungukuthi akusibo abantwana benyama abangabantwana bakaNkulunkulu labo, kodwa abantwana besithembiso bathiwa inzalo. Ngokuba lingelesithembiso leli zwi lokuthi: “Ngalesi sikhathi ngizakufika; khona uSara uzakuba nendodana.” Akuyilokhu kuphela, kodwa kwaba njalo nakuRebeka ekhulelisiwe ngoyedwa, u-Isaka, ukhokho wethu; ngokuba bengakazalwa, bengakenzi okuhle nokubi, ukuze icebo likaNkulunkulu eliya ngokukhetha lime, kungabi ngemisebenzi, kodwa kube ngaye obizayo, kwashiwo kuye ukuthi: “Omkhulu uyakukhonza omncane,” njengalokho kulotshiwe ukuthi: “UJakobe ngamthanda, kepha u-Esawu ngamzonda.” Ngakho siyakuthini na? Kukhona yini ukungalungi kuNkulunkulu na? Qha nakanye. Ngokuba kuMose uthi: “Ngizakumhawukela engimhawukelayo, ngimzwele engimzwelayo.” Ngakho-ke akuyi ngentando nangokuzikhathaza komuntu, kodwa kuya ngokuhawukela kukaNkulunkulu. Ngokuba umbhalo uthi kuFaro: “Ngakuphakhamisela khona lokhu ukuba ngibonakalise amandla ami kuwe nokuba igama lami lishunyayelwe emhlabeni wonke.” Ngakho uhawukela lowo athanda ukumhawukela, umenza lukhuni lowo athanda ukumenza lukhuni.