Romans 9 - 5.19.25

Scripture

Romans‬ ‭9‬:‭14‬-‭21‬ ‭NIV‬‬

“What then shall we say? Is God unjust? Not at all! For he says to Moses, “I will have mercy on whom I have mercy, and I will have compassion on whom I have compassion.” It does not, therefore, depend on human desire or effort, but on God’s mercy. For Scripture says to Pharaoh: “I raised you up for this very purpose, that I might display my power in you and that my name might be proclaimed in all the earth.” Therefore God has mercy on whom he wants to have mercy, and he hardens whom he wants to harden. One of you will say to me: “Then why does God still blame us? For who is able to resist his will?” But who are you, a human being, to talk back to God? “Shall what is formed say to the one who formed it, ‘Why did you make me like this?’ ” Does not the potter have the right to make out of the same lump of clay some pottery for special purposes and some for common use?”

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Observation

This passage speaks on the Sovereignty of God.

God being sovereign means that He is in control of everything!

“The fact that God is sovereign essentially means that He has the power, wisdom, and authority to do anything He chooses within His creation. Whether or not He actually exerts that level of control in any given circumstance is actually a completely different question.”(Gotquestions.org)

I personally don’t believe that God causes bad things to happen because bad things happen due to us living in a fallen and sinful world. However, why does God ALLOW bad things to happen without intervention? Or another question is the theological debate of predestination and free will. Does God in His sovereignty predetermine who will be saved and who will go to hell or do we have the free will to decide? There are theological arguments for both sides because we will never know the extent to which God applies His sovereignty; however, “all mainstream Christian sects agree that God is preeminent in power and authority. God’s sovereignty is a natural consequence of His omniscience, omnipotence, and omnipresence.” (Gotquestions.org)

Application

Meditate on the character of God when we have unanswered questions. Also, read His Word, the Bible!

When I look back on my life and even current circumstances, sometimes I ask God if He could’ve taught me certain lessons without having to go through so much pain, hardship and grief. There are still so many unanswered questions and I know that as long as I’m living on this earth, more will come, but at the end of the day, I must TRUST in His Sovereignty and control even if I don’t get those answers this side of Heaven. He remains good, loving and faithful! Also, I need to thank Him for my trials because I know He is in control of them and making me more into the image of Jesus through them. There is always hope in Christ, even in the midst of grief.

“Not only so, but we also glory in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope.” -‭‭Romans‬ ‭5‬:‭3‬-‭4‬ ‭NIV‬‬

Another thing I love to do is to be in His Word. I’ve developed a deeper love for reading Scripture, especially knowing the joy the writers had even THROUGH their circumstances. For example, Joseph! He was the definition of being wrongly accused and oppressed. He was truly a major victim of his circumstances. Yet, he knew the Lord was with him and what his brothers meant for evil, God turned for good. I love reading the Psalms because King David wrote many of those while fleeing his enemies. He still worshipped with his whole heart and soul regardless of what he was going through. I love reading the New Testament (because the Gospels with Jesus, of course), but also the Apostle Paul! He still ministered even in jail and was able to have joy in the Lord no matter what God allowed him to go through. I love reading about Jesus and what a humble king He was. He is God and wasn’t even protected from disappointment, rejection, grief and hurt. He endured the ultimate rejection and abandonment when God turned His face from Him when He took the penalty for our sins! I could go on and on, and I know that many of you who read His Word could add to my list as well. 😊

Prayer

Dear Jesus,

Thank You for Your Sovereignty and power! I know that I’m not meant to understand everything and I know I wouldn’t be able to handle it even if you told me, but I’m grateful that I could rest in You. You are ultimately in control of it all. I pray that in times that don’t make sense, I would continue to run to You, Your Word and just worship You for who You are just like my brothers and sisters in the past did, with the power of Your Holy Spirit. I love You Jesus. Amen.

-Michelle Gaddi