GOD’S SOVEREIGN MERCY

Romans 9:1-18 / Keywords 9:16

It does not, therefore, depend on man's desire or effort, but on God's mercy.

 

Paul’s Anguish Over Israel

9:1 I speak the truth in Christ—I am not lying, my conscience confirms it through the Holy Spirit— 2 I have great sorrow and unceasing anguish in my heart. 3 For I could wish that I myself were cursed and cut off from Christ for the sake of my people, those of my own race, 4 the people of Israel. Theirs is the adoption to sonship; theirs the divine glory, the covenants, the receiving of the law, the temple worship and the promises. 5 Theirs are the patriarchs, and from them is traced the human ancestry of the Messiah, who is God over all, forever praised![a] Amen.

God’s Sovereign Choice

6 It is not as though God’s word had failed. For not all who are descended from Israel are Israel. 7 Nor because they are his descendants are they all Abraham’s children. On the contrary, “It is through Isaac that your offspring will be reckoned.”[b] 8 In other words, it is not the children by physical descent who are God’s children, but it is the children of the promise who are regarded as Abraham’s offspring. 9 For this was how the promise was stated: “At the appointed time I will return, and Sarah will have a son.”[c]

10 Not only that, but Rebekah’s children were conceived at the same time by our father Isaac. 11 Yet, before the twins were born or had done anything good or bad—in order that God’s purpose in election might stand: 12 not by works but by him who calls—she was told, “The older will serve the younger.”[d] 13 Just as it is written: “Jacob I loved, but Esau I hated.”[e]

14 What then shall we say? Is God unjust? Not at all! 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.”[f]

16 It does not, therefore, depend on human desire or effort, but on God’s mercy. 17 For Scripture says to Pharaoh: “I raised you up for this very purpose, that I might display my power in you and that my name might be proclaimed in all the earth.”[g] 18 Therefore God has mercy on whom he wants to have mercy, and he hardens whom he wants to harden.

Footnotes

a. Romans 9:5 Or Messiah, who is over all. God be forever praised! Or Messiah. God who is over all be forever praised!

b. Romans 9:7 Gen. 21:12

c. Romans 9:9 Gen. 18:10,14

d. Romans 9:12 Gen. 25:23

e. Romans 9:13 Mal. 1:2,3

f. Romans 9:15 Exodus 33:19

g. Romans 9:17 Exodus 9:16

1. Paul was a Jew. His heart was broken because his own people rejected Christ. He would have exchanged his own salvation for theirs, had it been possible. The Israelites enjoyed the privileges of being God's sons, having his covenant, and being eyewitnesses of his glory. God dwelt with them and provided the way of forgiveness and worship. Their greatest glory was the Christ, who is God over all. But the Israelites rejected Christ and lost their privilege. Heritage is valuable, but the point is knowing and serving Jesus, who is God over all.

 

2. Israel failed, but God did not fail. God fulfilled his promise to Abraham that all nations would be blessed through his offspring. In his sovereign mercy, God chose Jacob rather than Esau. When Pharaoh opposed God, God used him anyway to proclaim his name in all the earth. No one can belong to God by their own desire or effort, only by God’s sovereign mercy.

 

Prayer Lord, I believe your promises; teach me to depend on your unfailing mercy.

One Word Depend on God’s mercy