Predestination is an Illusion

Yahweh foretold Rebekah what would happen to the two nations that would descend from Esau and Jacob—Gen. 25:23.

Genesis 25

23

And the LORD said to her: 

Two nations are in your womb;

two people will come from you and be separated. One people will be stronger than the other, 

and the older will serve the younger.

This prophecy does not imply that Jacob was predestined to deceitfully take Esau's blessings from Isaac—when Rebekah asked him to do so. And Rebekah did not ask him to do so, so that she could bring the prophecy to fulfillment. Even before Isaac was born, Yahweh had foretold Abraham that his descendants (who would later turn out to be the Israelites—descendants of Jacob) will be enslaved in a land not their own for four hundred years—Gen. 15:13. And that they will return to the land that Yahweh swore on oath to Abraham in the fourth generation—Gen. 15:16

Read: Jacob. What's in a name?

Yahweh's divine prowess to foretell despite human beings having free will should enable a human being to comprehend that He is beyond human comprehension.

1 Chronicles 28:9

for the LORD searches all hearts, and understands every intent of the thoughts

1 Samuel 16:7

for God sees not as man sees, for man looks at the outward appearance, but the LORD looks at the heart.

Psalm 7:9

For the righteous God tries the hearts and minds.

Psalm 44:21 

For He knows the secrets of the heart.

Even before Isaac was born, let alone Esau and Jacob, Yahweh foretold Abraham that his descendants will be enslaved in a land for four hundred years.

Genesis 15

13

Then the LORD said to Abram, “Know for certain that your descendants will be strangers in a land that is not their own; they will be enslaved and mistreated four hundred years. 

14

But I will judge the nation they serve as slaves, and afterward they will depart with many possessions.

15

You, however, will go to your fathers in peace and be buried at a ripe old age. 

16

In the fourth generation your descendants will return here, for the iniquity of the Amorites is not yet complete.”

The aforementioned prophecy reached its fulfillment when the nation of Israel was in Egypt for 430 years—Exo. 12:40. They were enslaved in Egypt, and then Yahweh appointed Moses to rescue the Israelites with great signs and wonders. Then the Israelites entered the land that Yahweh swore on oath to Abraham when He established His everlasting covenant with him.

In the same way, Yahweh foretold Rebekah about the two nations that would later descend from Jacob and Esau—Israel and Edom. Abraham and Rebekah in no way could have known what to make of these prophecies and how it would reach its fulfillment. Rebekah did not compel Jacob to deceitfully take Esau's blessing so that she could bring the prophecy to its fulfillment, and Jacob did not deceive because he grasped Esau's heel at the time of birth; events that occurred in their life after the birth of Esau and Jacob led to Jacob deceitfully taking Esau's blessing. The root cause was the Canaanite women whom Esau married; they were a source of grief to Rebekah and Isaac. 

The descendants of Jacob and Esau, who would later become the nation of Israel and nation of Edom, would fulfill the prophecy of Gen. 25:23.

Genesis 25

23

One people will be stronger than the other, 

and the older will serve the younger.

The events mentioned below prove that it wasn't Esau and Jacob but their descendants—the nation of Israel and the nation of Edom, who would fulfill the prophecy in Gen. 25:23:

• Though Esau plotted to kill Jacob after his blessing was deceitfully taken, he did not pursue Jacob who fled from him to Aram; instead, he realized how displeasing the Canaanite women were to his father Isaac, so he went to Ishmael and married his daughter Mahalath.
• In Aram, Jacob struggled with Laban and his relatives for twenty years.
• After Jacob earnestly prayed to the LORD to save him from Esau, a Man wrestled with him and seeing Jacob's grit to be blessed by Him, he was given the name Israel because he prevailed in his struggles.
• Then Jacob met Esau and they embraced each other and wept—Gen. 33:4

Genesis 33

4
Esau, however, ran to him and embraced him, threw his arms around his neck, and kissed him. And they both wept.

• It was Esau and Jacob who buried Isaac when he was gathered to his people— Gen. 35:28,29

Genesis 35
28
And Isaac lived 180 years. 
29
Then he breathed his last and died and was gathered to his people, old and full of years. And his sons Esau and Jacob buried him.

Predestination does not uphold the righteousness of God; Yahweh has given free will to everyone, yet He can foretell what will happen in the age to come.

Yahweh in His righteousness chose Abraham, Isaac and Jacob to establish His eternal covenant with them.