Section 8
love Jacob and hate Esau?" God may reply, "Don't argue with Me. I will to do it. I will have mercy on whom I will have mercy. Everything depends on My will."
What is the difference between mercy and compassion? It is difficult to distinguish. Al though compassion is very close to mercy, I would say that compassion is deeper, finer, and richer than mercy. Putting compassion together with mercy in this verse strengthens the fact that God is merciful.
"So then, it is not of the one who wills, nor of the one who runs, but of God, the One Who shows mercy" (v. 16). Mercy goes farther than grace. If, when I am in a good condition and my standing matches yours, you give me a gift, that is grace. However, when I am in a poor con dition and my standing is far removed from yours and you give me something, that is mercy. If I come to you as your dear friend and you give me a Bible as a gift, that is grace. However, if I am a poor unclean beggar, unable to do any thing for myself and you give me ten dollars, that is not grace, it is mercy. Thus, mercy reaches farther than grace. Grace only extends to a situ ation that corresponds to it, but mercy goes much farther, reaching into a situation that is poor