THE SOVEREIGNTY OF GOD

Romans 9:14-32

By David Woodbury

14 Are we saying, then, that God was unfair? Of course not! 15 For God said to Moses, “I will show mercy to anyone I choose, and I will show compassion to anyone I choose.” 16 So it is God who decides to show mercy. We can neither choose it nor work for it. 17 For the Scriptures say that God told Pharaoh, “I have appointed you for the very purpose of displaying my power in you and to spread my fame throughout the earth.” 18 So you see, God chooses to show mercy to some, and he chooses to harden the hearts of others so they refuse to listen. (Romans 9:14-18 – NLT)

Once again we are confronted with the difficulty of this passage which seems to depict God as showing bias. It needs to be remembered that Paul is reflecting on a period in Israel’s history when the nation was in rebellion against God. In a conversation with Moses God asserts his sovereignty and his right to exercise his own choices. The reality was that the nation had become so rebellious that God’s righteous presence may well result in his judgment falling on the nation: Go up to this land that flows with milk and honey. But I will not travel among you, for you are a stubborn and rebellious people. If I did, I would surely destroy you along the way. (Exodus 33:3 – NLT)

God’s dealings with the Israelite nation are recorded in the Old Testament so that we can learn and understand how an authentic relationship with the eternal God operates. History is the stage on which God has disclosed himself, and he has selected the experience of his chosen people as the particular means through which to declare his purpose. (Interpreter's Bible, The – Exposition – Romans 9) In the totality of all this is the recognition that God is sovereign and will work out his plan and purpose as he chooses. Our response must always be one of total obedience, even when we cannot comprehend those plans and purposes.

Humanity cannot dictate to God the conditions for the relationship, and God was emphasising this fact in his dealing with the rebellious Israelite nation. And the same is true for all humanity’s relationship with God. At the basis of such a relationship we need to acknowledge that God is the total and only source of life; that humanity is entirely dependent on him and needs to respond with deep gratitude, and that the only attitude humanity can have to him is one of humility in which we cooperate with him and at no stage think we can dictate the terms of the relationship.

19 Well then, you might say, “Why does God blame people for not responding? Haven’t they simply done what he makes them do?” 20 No, don’t say that. Who are you, a mere human being, to argue with God? Should the thing that was created say to the one who created it, “Why have you made me like this?” 21 When a potter makes jars out of clay, doesn’t he have a right to use the same lump of clay to make one jar for decoration and another to throw garbage into? 22 In the same way, even though God has the right to show his anger and his power, he is very patient with those on whom his anger falls, who are destined for destruction. 23 He does this to make the riches of his glory shine even brighter on those to whom he shows mercy, who were prepared in advance for glory. 24 And we are among those whom he selected, both from the Jews and from the Gentiles. 25 Concerning the Gentiles, God says in the prophecy of Hosea,

“Those who were not my people,
  I will now call my people.
And I will love those
  whom I did not love before.”

26 And,

“Then, at the place where they were told,
  ‘You are not my people,’
there they will be called
  ‘children of the living God.’”

27 And concerning Israel, Isaiah the prophet cried out,

“Though the people of Israel are as numerous as the sand of the seashore,
  only a remnant will be saved.
28 For the Lord will carry out his sentence upon the earth
  quickly and with finality.”

29 And Isaiah said the same thing in another place:

“If the Lord of Heaven’s Armies
  had not spared a few of our children,
we would have been wiped out like Sodom,
  destroyed like Gomorrah.”

 (Romans 9:19-29 – NLT)

Here, the relationship between mercy and judgment are brought together and the resultant outcome affirms the very nature of God as judge and redeemer, graphically illustrated in the way God deals with humanity. Consequently, it is the study of religious history that gives us valuable insight into how humanity relates to God. The deliverance of Israel from captivity in Egypt, and the celebration of this event throughout biblical writings, particularly in the Psalms, graphically illustrates the mercy and compassion of God. Conversely, the adversities that resulted from the disobedience and rebellion of the Israelite nation clearly demonstrate the judgment of God. Mercy and judgment reflect his nature, not because it is plausible for us to think so, but because his dealings with men permit them to hold no alternative view. (Interpreter's Bible, – Exposition – Romans 9)

On a human level when mercy is removed from judgment, humanity becomes unforgiving and hypercritical, and when judgment is removed from mercy we all too often end up with apathetic complacency. A balanced society needs judgment and mercy to function acceptably. The reality may well be that humanity is incapable of balancing these facets of life and only a divine mind can ensure an appropriate balance.  

However we perceive the judgment of God, the reality is that it is because of this judgment that mercy is freely and abundantly offered to all humanity through the redeeming death and resurrection of Jesus Christ, Jew and Gentile alike. Indeed, as we read this particular section of Romans … it becomes increasingly clear that Paul sees in God's judgment a means by which his mercy will finally triumph. (Interpreter's Bible, – Exposition – Romans 9)