Scripture:
Romans 9
Vs 6 But it is not as though the word of God has failed.
Vs 8 … it is not the children of the flesh who are the children of God, but the children of the promise are counted as offspring.
Vs 18 So then (God) has mercy on whomever He wills, and He hardens whomever He wills.
Vs 19 You will say to me then, “Why does He still find fault? For who can resist His will?”
Vs 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?”
30 What shall we say, then? That Gentiles who did not pursue righteousness have attained it, that is, a righteousness that is by faith;
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.”
Observation:
Paul is asking a series of increasingly probing rhetorical questions that he realizes we may be asking of God, Himself.
And then Paul actively swats them down as ridiculous by reminding of us who exactly God is and who exactly we are.
The word of God does not fail.
I will.
God is sovereign.
I am not.
God extends His promise.
I have faith in His promise.
Application:
Romans 9 is a great reminder that the habit of “blaming God” is not a modern phenomenon.
It’s God’s fault!
I can’t resist God!
He made me this way!
Paul, an incredibly deep thinker, tells that it doesn’t make sense or do any good to get into the philosophical weeds of these thoughts.
Simply acknowledge that God is God and I am not!
Who am I to answer God?!
This remind me of the first 37 chapters full of questions from Job and his friends only to finally have God speak and say, “Who is this that darkens my counsel by words without knowledge?!”
So many of my questions stem from insecurity.
I don’t have to be like this, though.
I can have an utmost security!
Why? Because God comes with a word … a promise.
And I am “a child of promise”.
And a child of promise receives “mercy”.
And this promise of mercy allows me to attain “righteousness”.
I must have “faith” in this “promise” of God.
But what is this promise?
God promises to “lay in Zion a rock of offense;
and whoever believes in him will not be put to shame.”
Amazing that so many would be “offended” by a promise of mercy and no shame if they would believe in Him, Jesus … the Rock of Offense”.
It’s true, though. I can speak of Buddha, or Hindi, or Mohammed, or any “religious” thought leader.
None give offense like Jesus.
Nothing compares to Jesus.
Because only He is sovereign.
Yet, only He makes and answers His own promises.
And only He makes me a child of His promise.
Prayer:
Thank you God that I’m your child.
Help me rest in that promise your mercy.
Help me honor you today.
In Jesus name
Amen