20250615 - James Womble - That God Would Have Mercy
Notes
Transcript
Introduction
Introduction
What have we learned in this section?
We learned that it God who calls. (10-13)
We learned that God is righteous in whom he chooses and it is not left to man’s will or Man’s ability, It is God who shows mercy. (14-16)
Today we will answer these questions.
What does the Scripture say about Pharaoh?
Did God create Pharaoh for evil purposes?
Who will God show mercy to?
10 And not only this; but when Rebecca also had conceived by one, even by our father Isaac;
11 (For the children being not yet born, neither having done any good or evil, that the purpose of God according to election might stand, not of works, but of him that calleth;)
12 It was said unto her, The elder shall serve the younger.
13 As it is written, Jacob have I loved, but Esau have I hated.
14 What shall we say then? Is there unrighteousness with God? God forbid.
15 For he saith to Moses, I will have mercy on whom I will have mercy, and I will have compassion on whom I will have compassion.
16 So then it is not of him that willeth, nor of him that runneth, but of God that sheweth mercy.
17 For the scripture saith unto Pharaoh, Even for this same purpose have I raised thee up, that I might shew my power in thee, and that my name might be declared throughout all the earth.
18 Therefore hath he mercy on whom he will have mercy, and whom he will he hardeneth.
What does the Scripture say about Pharaoh?
What does the Scripture say about Pharaoh?
17 For the scripture saith unto Pharaoh, Even for this same purpose have I raised thee up, that I might shew my power in thee, and that my name might be declared throughout all the earth.
This is a quote form Exodus 9:16 “16 And in very deed for this cause have I raised thee up, for to shew in thee my power; and that my name may be declared throughout all the earth.”
We might get the idea that God created Pharaoh to be an evil person for the purpose of hating him.
Notice that the Scripture does not say that God created but it says I raised thee up.
Glance back up to verse Romans 9:14 “14 What shall we say then? Is there unrighteousness with God? God forbid.”
Thinking God created Pharaoh for the purpose of evil would be a clear misunderstanding of who God is according to Scripture.
Clearly, we must dig a little deeper to understand exactly what Paul is saying.
So what is Paul saying here if God does not create someone for to do evil?
So what is Paul saying here if God does not create someone for to do evil?
This verse is not talking about an creative act on God’s part. God does not create someone to do evil.
Look what the Scripture says, “I have raise thee up.” God raised Pharaoh up, or God raised Pharaoh to stand.
He raised Pharaoh to stand and do what it was in his nature to do.
How was Pharaoh’s heart hardened?
How was Pharaoh’s heart hardened?
Pharaoh hardened his own heart. Exodus 8:15 “15 But when Pharaoh saw that there was respite, he hardened his heart, and hearkened not unto them; as the Lord had said.” Exodus 8:32 “32 And Pharaoh hardened his heart at this time also, neither would he let the people go.”
We see the LORD hardened Pharaoh’s heart, as well. Exodus 9:12 “12 And the Lord hardened the heart of Pharaoh, and he hearkened not unto them; as the Lord had spoken unto Moses.”
We see that both the Lord and Pharaoh hardened his heart.
MLJ says the LORD aggravated Pharaoh what was already in him. The Lord did not have to create him to do what he did. It came naturally to him.
Aggravation does not make us do something that we normally would not do.
Aggravation reveals what is in the heart.
It was sin in Pharaoh that caused him to harden his heart.
It was sin in Pharaoh that caused him to harden his heart.
It was pride in his heart that embolden himself against God. “Thus sayeth the LORD, let my people go!”
Pharaoh wanted to go toe-to-toe with the LORD.
Pharaoh thought he could match his kingship against the Kingship of the LORD.
Each progressive act of God was the result of his reactions.
Notice Exodus 9:34–35 “34 And when Pharaoh saw that the rain and the hail and the thunders were ceased, he sinned yet more, and hardened his heart, he and his servants. 35 And the heart of Pharaoh was hardened, neither would he let the children of Israel go; as the Lord had spoken by Moses.”
It was Pharaoh’s reaction that brought the next plague.
At anytime he could have obeyed and the next plague would not have come.
At anytime he could have obeyed and the next plague would not have come.
Each sin made it easier to sin on the next level. Therefore, each plague moved to the next level.
You understand that Sin hardens the heart and obedience softens the heart.
Pharaoh’s heart is an example of every human heart. It does not want to have anything to do with God. Romans 3
Why did God have this test of power with Pharaoh? (17)
Why did God have this test of power with Pharaoh? (17)
Romans 9:17 “17 For the scripture saith unto Pharaoh, Even for this same purpose have I raised thee up, that I might shew my power in thee, and that my name might be declared throughout all the earth.”
To shew the power of God and That the name of God would be declared throughout all the earth.
Forty years later, the people in the land were afraid of the Hebrews. (Joshua 2:1-21)
When Joshua sent the spies to Jericho, Rahab heard the stories of Israel coming out of Egypt and all that the LORD did for them. There is the possibility that Rahab was not even born when those things happened but yet she knew about them.
What are some application for us today?
What are some application for us today?
We cannot blame God, another person, event, or thing for our actions.
James 1:13–15 “13 Let no man say when he is tempted, I am tempted of God: for God cannot be tempted with evil, neither tempteth he any man: 14 But every man is tempted, when he is drawn away of his own lust, and enticed. 15 Then when lust hath conceived, it bringeth forth sin: and sin, when it is finished, bringeth forth death.”
Understand that if Pharaoh had let the people go it would not have been a temptation, it would have been obedience.
It became a temptation when he decided to defy God.
13 There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it.
How do we know the way of escape?
How do we know the way of escape?
For most things, we can apply the sum of all the law and prophets.
37 Jesus said unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind.
38 This is the first and great commandment.
39 And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself.
40 On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets.
Is this thing before me something that will be between God and me? Does this thing put something between my neighbor and me?
Is this thing before me something that will be between God and me? Does this thing put something between my neighbor and me?
Applications
