OUR FATHER WHO SHOWS MERCY

The book of Romans chapter 9 verses 14 - 21 continues with the Apostle Paul's exposition of the discretion that God reserves for Himself so that the path of  any man is not charted by his own will but rather by the will of God.

The example used here is the story of Pharaoh who was holding God's people in bondage and in his contention with Moses, had his heart hardened by God so that he refused to release the Israelites he was holding even though it was against his own interest.

14 What shall we say then? Is there unrighteousness with God? Certainly not! 15 For He says to Moses, “I will have mercy on whomever I will have mercy, and I will have compassion on whomever I will have compassion.” 16 So then it is not of him who wills, nor of him who runs, but of God who shows mercy. 17 For the Scripture says to the Pharaoh, “For this very purpose I have raised you up, that I may show My power in you, and that My name may be declared in all the earth.” 18 Therefore He has mercy on whom He wills, and whom He wills He hardens.

19 You will say to me then, “Why does He still find fault? For who has resisted His will?” 20 But indeed, O man, who are you to reply against God? Will the thing formed say to him who formed it, “Why have you made me like this?” 21 Does not the potter have power over the clay, from the same lump to make one vessel for honor and another for dishonor?

The metaphor used by Paul to clarify the discretion of God to  do with His own property what He wished is that of a potter who can chose at any juncture to create an earthen vessel for one purpose of honor while being able to make the next one for a common purpose and Paul emphasizes that it is not appropriate for the lump of clay that the potter uses to object to the functions that the potter choses to use it for.

Amen.

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