Romans 9:1-33
The God, who works all things together for our good, has an eternal purpose over which He is completely in control. He "works all things according to the counsel of His will." Ephesians 1:11. To the house of Jacob the Lord said, "I am God, and there is none like Me, declaring the end from the beginning, and from ancient times things that are not yet done, saying, 'My counsel shall stand, and I will do all My pleasure.'" Isaiah 46:9, 10.
In Romans 9 God exhibits His sovereignty in personal choices. Paul, a Jew, believed that "they are not all Israel who are of Israel, nor are they all children because they are the seed of Abraham." The apostle goes on to say, "That is, those who are the children of the flesh, these are not the children of God; but the children of the promise are counted as the seed." Romans 9:6-8.
What does he mean? Sarah, Abraham's wife, was barren and bore him no children. However, Abraham did have a son, Ishmael, who was born to Hagar, an Egyptian maidservant. Ishmael was Abraham's firstborn. Later Sarah conceived and gave birth to another son, Isaac. He was the child of promise.
Next Isaac's wife, Rebecca, gave birth to two boys, Jacob and Esau. "It was said to her, 'The older shall serve the younger.'" Esau was the firstborn, the eldest. The younger was supposed to serve the older brother. This was contrary to the customs of the time, as God had another plan before the boys were born "that the purpose of God according to election might stand, not of works but of Him who calls." Romans 9:10-12.
Isaac and Jacob were the children of the promise, according to the sovereign choice of God. Ishmael and Esau were not. The true Jew was not one merely by race, but rather also by grace.
In this chapter we not only find Jews who are not true Jews, but people of God who were not people of God. These were Gentiles, whom the Jews loathed and despised. The Lord had said to the prophet Hosea, "I will call them My people, who were not My people, and her beloved, who was not beloved." See Romans 9:25 and Hosea 2:23. The recipients of Paul's letter to the Romans were Gentiles, who had come to a saving faith in Jesus Christ.
What about the Jews? "Isaiah also cries out concerning Israel: 'Though the number of the children of Israel be as the sand of the sea, the remnant will be saved....'" See Romans 9:27 and Isaiah 10:22. "God has not cast away His people whom He foreknew." Romans 11:2.
Questions always arise concerning the sovereignty of God. Some are stated in this chapter. "Is there unrighteousness with God?" Romans 9:14. "Why does He still find fault?" Romans 9:19.
The creature is not competent to sit in judgment on His Creator. "But indeed, O man, who are you to reply against God? Will the thing formed say to him who formed it, 'Why have You made me like this?'" Romans 9:20. To judge the validity of God's actions is to imply that man is more righteous than God, and to judge the wisdom of God is to imply that man is wiser than God.
The sovereign God of Romans 9 is not some mean tyrant, but rather a God of mercy and grace. Human action is not reduced to a charade and rendered insignificant. He is in control, and is able to save all who come to Him through faith in His Son, the Lord Jesus Christ.
O sovereign Lord, You are rich in mercy, and generous in extending Your grace to us. You are worthy of our praise. Your greatness is unfathomable. Help us to walk humbly before You. In Jesus' name. Amen!
