God’s Anger And Mercy
September 13, 2019
Commentary
Is God unjust in choosing Isaac over Ishmael & Jacob over Esau? Moses over Pharaoh & Israel over Egypt (vv. 14-18)? Paul responds, “Not at all! God is not under obligation to give mercy to anyone.” In Malachi 1:2,3, the statement “Jacob I have loved but Esau I have hated” refers to the nations of Israel and Edom, rather than to the individual brothers. God chose Jacob to continue the family line of the faithful because he knew his heart was for God. But He did not exclude Esau from knowing and loving Him.
Paul then refers to Isaiah 45:9 and 29:16. Man, the created one, does not have a right to question God who is wiser and is the Creator, just like the clay has no right over the potter (vv. 19-22). The Creator has the same authority over His creatures which came from dust. Paul is not saying that some of us are worth more than others, but simply that the Creator has control over the created object. The created object, therefore, has no right to demand anything from its Creator; its very existence depends on him. All of us deserve condemnation, not mercy. However, we are not excused from responsibility. Pharaoh had many opportunities to learn about God and trust Him, yet he refused and chose to rebel. God prepares men for His glory, but sinners prepare themselves for judgment (vv. 23-24). We find in Moses and Israel how God showed the riches of His mercy. However, we see in Pharaoh and Egypt that God revealed His power and wrath. Neither deserved mercy.
Application
Am I submitted to God like the clay is to the potter? In other words, am I letting God conform me to His will? If so, my life should bring glory to God, and my actions should be those that please God.
Romans 9:14– 24 (NET)
14 What shall we say then? Is there injustice with God? Absolutely not! 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 then, it does not depend on human desire or exertion, but on God who shows mercy. 17 For the scripture says to Pharaoh: “For this very purpose I have raised you up, that I may demonstrate my power in you, and that my name may be proclaimed in all the earth.” 18 So then, God has mercy on whom he chooses to have mercy, and he hardens whom he chooses to harden.
19 You will say to me then, “Why does he still find fault? For who has ever resisted his will?” 20 But who indeed are you—a mere human being —to talk back to God? Does what is molded say to the molder, “Why have you made me like this?” 21 Has the potter no right to make from the same lump of clay one vessel for special use and another for ordinary use? 22 But what if God, willing to demonstrate his wrath and to make known his power, has endured with much patience the objects of wrath prepared for destruction? 23 And what if he is willing to make known the wealth of his glory on the objects of mercy that he has prepared beforehand for glory— 24 even us, whom he has called, not only from the Jews but also from the Gentiles?