Romans 9:14-33 (ESV)
What shall we say then? Is there injustice on God's part? By no means! [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 depends not on human will or exertion, but on God, who has mercy. [17] For the Scripture says to Pharaoh, "For this very purpose I have raised you up, that I might show my power in you, and that my name might be proclaimed in all the earth." [18] So then he has mercy on whomever he wills, and he hardens whomever he wills.
[19] You will say to me then, "Why does he still find fault? For who can resist his will?" [20] But who are you, O man, to answer back to God? Will what is molded say to its molder, "Why have you made me like this?" [21] Has the potter no right over the clay, to make out of the same lump one vessel for honored use and another for dishonorable use? [22] What if God, desiring to show his wrath and to make known his power, has endured with much patience vessels of wrath prepared for destruction, [23] in order to make known the riches of his glory for vessels of mercy, which he has prepared beforehand for glory— [24] even us whom he has called, not from the Jews only but also from the Gentiles? [25] As indeed he says in Hosea,
"Those who were not my people I will call 'my people,'and her who was not beloved I will call 'beloved.' "
[26] "And in the very place where it was said to them, 'You are not my people,'
there they will be called 'sons of the living God.' "
[27] And Isaiah cries out concerning Israel: "Though the number of the sons of Israel be as the sand of the sea, only a remnant of them will be saved, [28] for the Lord will carry out his sentence upon the earth fully and without delay." [29] And as Isaiah predicted,
"If the Lord of hosts had not left us offspring,we would have been like Sodom
and become like Gomorrah."
[30] What shall we say, then? That Gentiles who did not pursue righteousness have attained it, that is, a righteousness that is by faith; [31] but that Israel who pursued a law that would lead to righteousness did not succeed in reaching that law. [32] Why? Because they did not pursue it by faith, but as if it were based on works. They have stumbled over the stumbling stone, [33] as it is written,
"Behold, I am laying in Zion a stone of stumbling, and a rock of offense;and whoever believes in him will not be put to shame."
Questions for Reflection
- How did Paul defend the accusation that God is unjust in His treatment of people? (9:14-15)
- What determines how God bestows favor on people? (9:16)
- What examples from history did Paul use to demonstrate God’s choice of blessing? (9:17-18)
- What right do we have to question God? (9:19-21)
- Why does God show great patience with us even though we deserve His wrath? (9:22-24)
- What did the prophets Isaiah and Hosea tell us about God’s patience and justice? (9:25-29)
- On what basis does God choose people to inherit His promises?
- How have you experienced God’s mercy and patience in your life?
