God further show his love to those who questioned it by patiently showing to them proof of His love. He responds in grace and not in judgment in the face of such provocation. Please note the "hatred" of Esau by the Lord is like that of Jacob's "hatred" of Leah, (Gen 29:31) - a much lesser decree of love to that of His love for Jacob. His love was seen in the choice of Jacob their father. He and Esau were twins! Rom 9:11-13. Election is not according to works or merit but sovereign grace alone. "The LORD did not set his love upon you, nor choose you, because ye were more in number than any people; for ye were the fewest of all people: But because the LORD loved you, and because he would keep the oath which he had sworn unto your fathers, hath the LORD brought you out with a mighty hand, and redeemed you out of the house of bondmen, from the hand of Pharaoh king of Egypt," Deut 7:7-8.