Does God Really Hate Some People?

“This message is the word of the Lord given to Israel through Malachi. God Loves Israel The Lord said, ‘I have loved you.’ But you ask, ‘How have you loved us?’ The Lord said, ‘Esau and Jacob were brothers. I loved Jacob, but I hated Esau. I destroyed his mountain country and left his land to the wild dogs of the desert.’” – Malachi 1:1-3

Malachi 1:1-3 is God’s declaration of His covenant love for Israel. He does pick people to be His followers like He did for them. It is hard to understand why He picks certain people and not others and that He could hate anyone. Ephesians 1:4-6 reminds us of this divine election:

“That is, in Christ, he chose us before the world was made so that we would be his holy people—people without blame before him. Because of his love, God had already decided to make us his own children through Jesus Christ. That was what he wanted and what pleased him, and it brings praise to God because of his wonderful grace. God gave that grace to us freely, in Christ, the One he loves.”

Even if God tried to explain to us why He picks some people and not others, we would probably have a hard time understanding why He does what He does. There were things my parents tried to explain to me, but I never truly understood them until I was older and more mature. We also have to keep in mind that God does not have to explain anything to us including why He does what He does. Job cried out to God wondering why he was suffering, but God never explained to him why he was going through was he was going through.

It can be difficult to believe that God could hate anyone. It seems like God does not hate a certain person, but hates what they do because He shows love to everyone. He does it by providing everyone with the things they need. Matthew 5:45 clearly states: “He causes the sun to rise on good people and on evil people, and he sends rain to those who do right and to those who do wrong.” He also does not want anyone to be lost but wants all people to change their hearts and lives. He is very patient and wants everyone to change from their wicked ways (2 Peter 3:9).

When a person sins, it hurts God. Look at Genesis 6:6, it says, “He was sorry he had made human beings on the earth, and his heart was filled with pain.” He was filled with pain because humans were doing evil things. It hurts me when someone I love sins. I feel pain in my heart, and it impacts me and my life in a negative way. It is more painful to God because He cares about His creation. Sin separates our intimate relationship with Him. If you are a parent, you can relate to God and how it impacts you to see your child do what is not right because you want your child to do the right thing.

God does not like when a person does these things, “a proud look, a lying tongue, hands that kill innocent people, a mind that thinks up evil plans, feet that are quick to do evil, a witness who lies, and someone who starts arguments among families (Proverbs 6:17-19).” He cannot tolerate the wicked deeds and in a judicial sense, opposes those who refuse to repent. God’s “hatred” is a reaction of holy revulsion against sin, which is in direct rebellion against Him.