without thinking also of the nation that descended from him. However, no matter what other things may be involved in the relationships and differences between these two nations, the central thought of Paul was that the Covenant Seed was called through Jacob. While seeing a reference to the nations as well as the individuals, Shedd says, “The theocratic election of Isaac and Jacob illustrates the spiritual election of individuals; and the theocratic reprobation of Ishmael and Esau illustrates the