A Sovereign God and His People

Durning this part of chapter 9 Paul much like he has in previous chapters anticipates the people having objections

Here he uses facts that the people know from the OT to help them understand that due to our sinful nature we do not deserve Gods grace or mercy but we get it anyway.

There is No Injustice in God (v 14)

Paul asks the question is there any injustice on Gods part?

His answer is a very infatic NO!

In the greek the answer is basically “It will never be”

We must look at Gods sovereignty through the light of us being in the wrong.

It was man that sinned in the beginning not God.

God is not obligated to save anyone because we are the ones that broke His laws.

Just like we would not pay a contracter who did not complete a job, we are not entitled to anything because we are the ones that broke the law.

That is why we sing of His amazing grace, because no matter how good we think we are we are not good enough.

John Newton wrote of that amazing grace after a life of being a slave trader.

God Chose Israel Over Pharaoh (vv 15-18)

God after leading His people out of Egypt saw them turn to idols while He was giving them His laws.

Here He tells Moses that He chooses who He has mercy on and who we dose not.

Exodus 33:19 ESV

19 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.

He could have wiped out the whole nation for worshiping false Gods but he did not.

Mercy can never be earned or bought because if it could then it would be because of our means and because of our ability and not because of Gods free gift.

God put Pharaoh over Egypt at that time to be the one that He would use to show that He had the power to control all things in the world.

God did not harden Pharaohs heart: Pharaoh did:

Exodus 8:15 ESV

15 But when Pharaoh saw that there was a respite, he hardened his heart and would not listen to them, as the Lord had said.

Exodus 8:32 ESV

32 But Pharaoh hardened his heart this time also, and did not let the people go.

Exodus 9:34 ESV

34 But when Pharaoh saw that the rain and the hail and the thunder had ceased, he sinned yet again and hardened his heart, he and his servants.

God gave him many times to repent and change His ways but he did not.

God shows mercy to those that are willing to except it but He does not extend it forever.

He will eventually quit and never offer again.

God Shapes People for His Glory (vv 19-24)

God does not have to answer to anyone because He is sovereign in His Person and Power.

God makes us and molds us into what He wants us to be.

He has a plan for each of us that is ment for each one of us specifically.

We are the clay and He is the potter.