SCRIPTURE: ROMANS 9
GOD’S SOVEREIGN CHOICE (vs. 1-29)
The people of Israel are supposed to be adopted as sons of God. Theirs the divine glory, the covenants, the receiving of the law, the temple worship and the promises. Theirs are the patriarchs and from them is traced the human ancestry of Christ, who is God over all, forever praised.
But not all who descended from Israel are Israel. Nor because they are his descendants are they all Abraham’s children. On the contrary, it is not the natural children who are God’s children, but it is the children of the promise who are regarded as Abraham’s offspring. For this was how the promise was stated: “At the appointed time, I will return, and Sarah will have a son.” (v. 9).
Rebekah’s children had one and the same father, our father Isaac. Yet, before the twins were born or had done anything good or bad – in order that God’s purpose in election might stand, not by works but by him who calls – she was told, “The older will serve the younger.”. Just as it is written, “Jacob I loved but Esau I hated.” (v. 13)
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.” (v. 14). It does not, therefore, depend on man’s desire or effort, but on God’s mercy. For the 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.” (v. 17). Therefore, God has mercy on whom he wants to have mercy, and he hardens whom he wants to harden.
We may question God’s choice. But who are you, O man, to talk back to God. Shall what is formed say to him 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 noble purpose and some for common use? (vs. 20-21)
What if God, choosing to show his wrath and make his power known, bore with great patience the objects of his wrath – prepared for destruction? What if he did this to make the riches of his glory know to the objects of his mercy, whom he prepared in advance for glory – even us, whom he also called, not only from the Jews but also from the Gentiles? (vs. 22-24)
As He says in Hosea: “I will call them ‘my people’ who are not my people; and I will call her ‘my loved one’ who is not my loved one.” and, “It will happen that in the very place where it was said to them, ‘You are not my people,’ they will be called ‘sons of the living God.” (v. 26)
Isaiah cries out concerning Israel”: Though the number of the Israelites be like the sand by the sea, only the remnant will be saved. For the Lord will carry out his sentence on earth with speed and finality.” (v. 27) It is just as Isaiah said previously: “Unless the Lord Almighty had left us descendants, we would have become like Sodom, we would have been like Gomorrah.” (v. 29)
ISRAEL UNBELIEF (vs. 30-33)
The Gentiles, who did not pursue righteousness, have obtained it a righteousness that is by faith; but Israel, who pursued a law of righteousness, has not attained it. Why not? Because they pursued it not by faith but as if it were by works. They stumbled over the “stumbling stone”. As it is written: “See, I lay in Zion a stone that causes men to stumble, and a rock that makes them fall, and the one who trusts in him will never be put to shame.” (v. 33)
THOUGHTS:
Paul asserted that no one can claim to be chosen by God because of his heritage or good deeds. God freely chooses to save whoever he wills. The doctrine of election teaches that it is God’s sovereign choice to save us by goodness and mercy not by our own merit.
When God chose Jacob, the younger to be over Esau in Malachi 1:2-3, he was referring to the nations of Israel and Edom. God chose Jacob to continue the family line of the faithful because he knew Jacob’s heart was for Him. But he did not exclude Esau from knowing Him. Sometimes we may not understand God’s choice but we know that his choices are the best.
Paul emphasized the sovereignty of God. Man, the created being has no right to question God’s choice or decision. Nobody can criticize God or say He is unfair. The creator has control over the created objects and its existence depends on Him. The created object has no right to demand anything from its creator. Keeping this perspective will prevent us from being proud of our personal achievement. The fact that He is merciful to sinners should make us rejoice!
Paul explained that God’s plan is not for those who try to earn his favor by being good. It is for those who realized that they can never be good enough and so must depend on Christ. We can be saved only by putting our faith in what Jesus Christ has done.
Israel rejected Christ but the Gentiles gladly received the good news. However, God has a remnant among the Jews who will be with the Gentiles in the church.
The “stumbling rock” refers to Jesus. The Jews did not believe in Him as the Messiah because salvation by faith does not make sense to them. They think that they must earn their way to God. Others stumble over Christ because His values are the opposite of the world’s. God requires humility and obedience and many refuse to follow.