Does God love everyone equally, considering that the Bible speaks about people who found favour with Him?

Question

The Bible records that God said, concerning Jacob and Esau, "Jacob have I loved, but Esau have I hated" (Romans 9:13). There are also several instances in Scripture where God chose one person over another, favoured one above others, or demonstrated a special preference for certain individuals.

If God loves everyone equally, how do we reconcile His equal love with His apparent preference for certain individuals in Scripture?

Does God's decision to favour one person over another suggest that He loves some people more than others, or is there a distinction between God's love for humanity and His choice to favour certain individuals for specific purposes?

Can God love everyone equally while choosing to favour some people over others?