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[Real Doors]

So I've set out to read the bible to gain a better understanding about the Christian faith. I'm currently in Genesis, and everything seems somewhat normal, but why did God choose Jacob over Esau? Jacob seems like a thief and an overall dick, so why Jacob? Another question I have is why did Noah curse Canaan in Genesis 9:25? I'm having a hard time following exactly what made Noah upset and assumed it was some kind of a translation issue.

[Righteous One]

Genesis 25 is where God says that Rebekah will have two children who will be the start of two nations, and that 'the older will serve the younger'.

In Romans 9, in verses 10-12, Paul says that: ... when Rebekah had conceived children by one man, our forefather Isaac, though they were not yet born and had done nothing either good or bad—in order that God's purpose of election might continue, not because of works but because of him who calls— she was told, “The older will serve the younger.”

God chose, before the two babies were born, which of them would be the one through whom the promise made to Abraham about Abraham's offspring would happen (that is, through which line of descent would the Christ be eventually born).

This choice by God was independent of any good parts or bad parts of Jacob's character (as the subsequent chapters in Genesis show us some incidents in Jacob's life that show his not-so-good character).

It was 'in order that God's purpose of election might continue, not because of works but because of him who calls'. It was 'not because of works' - not because Jacob was a very virtuous guy.

Calvinists sometimes think that the first part of Romans 9 shows that God chose before the two babies' birth that Jacob would be saved / would be destined to go to heaven, and that Esau would be not saved. But God was actually choosing through which line of descent would the Christ be born.

[jimwalton]

While I respect the answer given by Righteous One, there may be more to it and ways to get at the answer you seek. As we read the whole story of Jacob and Esau, though Jacob seems like a jerk and Esau seems like a nicer guy, as the story progresses we find that Jacob is more responsive to God's call and direction on his life and Esau less responsive, which could have been behind the reason for His choice.

At the end of Gen. 25 (vv. 29-34), we are given some insight right away. Though Jacob is a schemer (v. 31), Esau seems to have no care for the spiritual side of life ("he despised his birthright," which included being the family priest). Esau couldn't seem to care less about the spiritual significance the birthright represents; he trades it for a bowl of food. Esau is the antithesis of "the faithful" in Hebrews 11.

Later when Jacob swindles Esau again, this time out of the patriarchal blessing (Gn. 27), Esau responds by marrying Canaanite women (Gn. 28.6-9), something strictly forbidden. Again we see his insensitivity and disregard for the things of God.

Meanwhile, Jacob is responding positively to God (Gn. 28.10-22). And so the story goes. Though both men had some pretty serious personal flaws, Jacob responds to God in spite of them, while Esau disregards and disdains God.