Romans 9:14–18
Paul has been building this argument since Romans 1. It came to the startling conclusion, “for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God” (Romans 3:23). So how does that bring us here?
Yesterday, Paul discussed two cases of persons chosen before they were born, Isaac and Jacob. Today he hears us ask, “Isn’t God unjust if He chooses one over another before they have done anything?” Paul’s reply? “By no means!”
To bring his point to bear, Paul again brings two cases before us.
First, he does something that is not expected unless you are following what Paul said in verse 3. Paul almost repeats what Moses said when he came down the mountain and found the Israelites in rebellion against God. Moses intercedes for the people and says, “But now, if you will forgive their sin—but if not, please blot me out of your book that you have written” (Exodus 32:32). Moses wishes to be blotted out from God’s favor, just as Paul stated in verse 3.
The story in Exodus continues as God gives Moses instructions that they should go without God accompanying them. Then comes the line: “And he said, ‘I will make all my goodness pass before you and will proclaim before you my name “The LORD.” And I will be gracious to whom I will be gracious, and will show mercy on whom I will show mercy’” (Exodus 33:19). God shows mercy to Israel, not because they had obeyed Him. They had not. God asserts His own freedom to show mercy. God’s mercy rests in His own gracious will, not in Israel’s worthiness.
Then he brings in Pharaoh. The Bible tells us that Pharaoh hardened his heart several times. But we see even from the commissioning of Moses that God purposes to harden Pharaoh’s heart (Exodus 4:21). Pharaoh had already dealt harshly with the Israelites, killing their children and enslaving their families. He too stands guilty before the Lord. Yet God says, “But for this purpose I have raised you up, to show you my power, so that my name may be proclaimed in all the earth” (Exodus 9:16). God chooses to display His power through the judgment of Pharaoh.
Two cases. Both defendants were guilty. “So then it depends not on human will or exertion, but on God, who has mercy” (Romans 9:16).
Mercy, by definition, cannot be earned. God did not choose to forgive the Israelites because they were good. As Paul already stated, we have sinned and deserve judgment.
Paul’s point here is that it is not surprising that God judges the wicked. It is surprising that He has mercy on anyone.
And so we are offered grace, as John says of Jesus: “But to all who did receive him, who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God, who were born, not of blood nor of the will of the flesh nor of the will of man, but of God” (John 1:12–13).
John describes our new birth in nearly identical terms. Not by blood lineage, not by the will of the flesh, not even by the will of man, but of God.
It is God who chooses. He is just in judging the wicked and just in pardoning the guilty.
-steve