God’s Sovereign Choice -Romans 9:14-29
14 What then are we to say? Is there injustice on God’s part? By no means! 15 For he says to Moses,
“I will have mercy on whom I have mercy,
and I will have compassion on whom I have compassion.”
16 So it depends not on human will or exertion, but on God who shows mercy.17 For the scripture says to Pharaoh, “I have raised you up for the very purpose of showing my power in you, so that my name may be proclaimed in all the earth.”18 So then he has mercy on whomever he chooses, and he hardens the heart of whomever he chooses.
God’s Wrath and Mercy
19 You will say to me then, “Why then does he still find fault? For who can resist his will?” 20 But who indeed are you, a human being, to argue with God? Will what is molded say to the one who molds it, “Why have you made me like this?” 21 Has the potter no right over the clay, to make out of the same lump one object for special use and another for ordinary use? 22 What if God, desiring to show his wrath and to make known his power, has endured with much patience the objects of wrath that are made for destruction; 23 and what if he has done so in order to make known the riches of his glory for the objects of mercy, which he has prepared beforehand for glory— 24 including us whom he has called, not from the Jews only but also from the Gentiles? 25 As indeed he says in Hosea,
“Those who were not my people I will call ‘my people,’
and her who was not beloved I will call ‘beloved.’”
26 “And in the very place where it was said to them, ‘You are not my people,’
there they shall be called children of the living God.”
27 And Isaiah cries out concerning Israel, “Though the number of the children of Israel were like the sand of the sea, only a remnant of them will be saved; 28 for the Lord will execute his sentence on the earth quickly and decisively.” 29 And as Isaiah predicted,
“If the Lord of hosts had not left survivors to us,
we would have fared like Sodom
and been made like Gomorrah.”
What does the Passage Say?
V. 14-18 God choosing who God selects does not make God a cold hearted being. Paul argues that mercy and compassion only come from God. “I’m in charge of mercy. I’m in charge of compassion.” Compassion doesn’t originate in our bleeding hearts or moral sweat, but in God’s mercy” (v. 15 The Message).
V. 19 – 26 Paul says that God’s decision is God’s sovereignty. Therefore, we do not have a say in it. He says, “Do you for one moment suppose any of us knows enough to call God into question? Clay doesn’t talk back to fingers that mold it, saying, “Why did you shape me like this?” (v. 20 The Message)
This is difficult to understand, especially when we do not follow predestination. I’ll talk about it later. We have to remember Paul will explain why he is saying this.
What does this mean to us?
When we read this as a basis of predestination, it is hard to see the God who is loving. God seems to be so cruel, and this is against our belief on Prevenient Grace. (Read more on how we should respond to the Deterministic Interpretation)
However, this passage by any means should not be a reason for us to undermine God’s sovereignty. God is sovereign. We should always remind ourselves of who God is. God is the Lord. God is my Lord.
Lord, we might not understand your will. Yes, sometimes, it is hard to understand your will. Sometimes it is hard to acknowledge that you are in charge. Regardless of our confusion, we submit to your sovereignty. Continue to be my God. In Christ Name, Amen.
What are your thoughts?
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