Romans 9:19-24

The previous passage ended with a conclusion, “Therefore He has mercy on whom He wills and whom He wills He hardens.”  This leads to an obvious question: “Why does He still find fault?  For who has resisted His will?”  If God is free to do what He did with Jacob and Esau or Pharaoh, then how can He hold any of us guilty for resisting Him?  It sounds like we are mere robots or pawns.  

How does the Holy Spirit answer this question through Paul?  Before we note his answer let us say that this passage raises many questions.  For example,

·        Is Romans 9 saying that God chose an entity, Israel, when He chose Abraham, Isaac and Jacob?   And then did He leave the individuals within that entity to make their own choice?  Verses 25-29 cause some to lean to this view.

·        If, as some think, God made His choice in election based on foreknowledge (knowing ahead of time what choice they would make) does that not leave us in the same quandary as to why God would bring into being those prepared for destruction?  And if this is the case is God still free as indicated in v18?

·         Does your view of this passage lead to the clear conclusion of Paul that Israel’s failure is because of unbelief (9:30-32)?  The language of Scripture is that they made a choice; they stumbled at that stumbling stone.

These are hard questions.  I need to study and submit to the Spirit’s teaching, I also need to be gentle with those who disagree.  There need be no loss of love towards those on another side of the issue.

Paul’s answer has two parts.  First he maintains God’s sovereignty, using the picture of the Potter (v20-21).  But it is not just God’s sovereignty he maintains; he maintains our subjection to God.  We are His creation.  There are many things in our lives about which we had no choice (parents, genetics, early environment and influences, etc.).  It is unfitting for the bowl to complain to the Potter about its size or shape.  “Who are you to reply against God?”

Then Paul asks a “what if” question (v22-24).  What if God (the Potter) endured the bowls that would not be useful and that He would have to destroy so that He could also have some that would be useful, that would display His glory as Creator?  This idea fits Scripture, that God is Creator of all the bowls, both good and bad (Prov. 16:4) and that every bowl in some way displays the attributes of the Creator.  

These answers tell us how foolish it is for any of us to rail against God in this.  We are in a Potter/clay situation.  And furthermore Scripture also makes it clear that our situation is not hopeless.  God, the Creator, has made available to us His grace by which we can live purposefully, joyfully and eternally.

We will continue this tomorrow.  But in the meantime let us give thanks to the Potter for His work on us.  Let us humble ourselves before Him (1 Peter 5:5-6).