Romans Part 30
The problem was never God's Law itself but humanity's misunderstanding of its purpose. The Gentiles obtained righteousness through faith, while many in Israel pursued righteousness through works of the Law, mistakenly treating obedience as something that could earn God's favor.
In Romans 9:15, Paul continues his discussion of God's sovereign calling by quoting God's words to Moses after Israel's sin with the golden calf in Exodus 33:19:
"I will have mercy on whomever I will have mercy."
Although these words were originally spoken in response to Moses' request to see God's glory, Paul uses them to emphasize God's sovereign right to extend mercy according to His own purpose. Mercy is never something God is obligated to give. If God dealt with humanity only according to justice, every sinner would receive the penalty of death. Mercy, by its very nature, is undeserved. It is grace freely given out of God's loving desire to save. His choice to show mercy is not based on human worthiness or achievement but on His own gracious will. At the same time, Scripture consistently reveals that God ultimately desires all people to receive that mercy.
In verse 17, Paul turns to Pharaoh as an example of God's sovereign dealings with mankind. At first glance, the Exodus account appears confusing because some passages say that God hardened Pharaoh's heart (Exodus 9:12, 10:1), while others plainly state that Pharaoh hardened his own heart (Exodus 8:15, 9:24, 10:3). Still other verses simply say that Pharaoh's heart became hardened without identifying the cause (Exodus 7:13, 7:22). Rather than presenting a contradiction, these statements together paint a fuller picture of what was happening.
The language itself helps explain the issue. Scripture is filled with figures of speech and idioms that describe God as doing what He permits to happen. Hebrew scholar E. W. Bullinger observed that many of these verbs express permission rather than direct causation. In this understanding, when God says, "I will harden Pharaoh's heart," the meaning is that God would permit Pharaoh's already rebellious attitude to continue rather than intervening to change it. A similar construction appears in Ezekiel 14:9, where God says He has deceived a false prophet, though the broader context makes clear that God allows those who reject truth to continue in deception rather than personally deceiving them.
The Exodus narrative itself supports this understanding. Pharaoh repeatedly hardened his own heart, refused to humble himself before God, and sinned again even after witnessing God's miraculous power. God did not remove Pharaoh's free will or force him into rebellion. Instead, He confronted Pharaoh with repeated opportunities to obey, presenting circumstances that required a decision. Each plague became another opportunity for repentance, but Pharaoh continually chose pride instead of submission. In this way, God accomplished His purpose without making Pharaoh a puppet. Scripture consistently teaches that God is
"not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance" (2 Peter 3:9).
The hardening of Pharaoh's heart, therefore, should not be understood as God creating evil within Pharaoh, but as God allowing Pharaoh's own rebellion to become firmly established while using those events to accomplish His larger redemptive plan.
This discussion also raises important questions about God's calling. If salvation were available only during this present life, it would be difficult to reconcile that idea with God's desire for all people to be saved. Throughout history, countless people have never heard the true gospel or have known only distorted versions of it. Paul's argument throughout Romans points toward God's orderly plan of calling people according to His purpose and timing rather than offering every individual the same opportunity at the same moment.
Paul then answers the objection that if God works according to His own purpose, humans have no right to question Him. Using the illustration of a potter and clay, he reminds his readers that God, like a master craftsman, has the authority to shape His creation according to His wisdom. Yet the broader testimony of Scripture shows that this picture is not one of permanent rejection. Just as Paul later describes in 2 Timothy 2:20–21, vessels once used for dishonorable purposes can be cleansed and remade for honorable use. God's work with humanity is ongoing, and His purpose is ultimately restorative rather than merely destructive.
Paul explains that God has patiently endured humanity's rebellion in order to accomplish a greater purpose. By allowing people to experience the consequences of sin, God reveals the true nature of evil and demonstrates the riches of His mercy to those whom He calls. Human history itself serves as a powerful lesson about the devastation that results from rejecting God's ways. Through that experience, God prepares humanity to appreciate the blessings of His coming Kingdom.
Although Israel as a nation largely rejected the Messiah during Paul's day, God had not abandoned His people. Just as the prophets foretold, He preserved a faithful remnant while reserving the majority for a future calling. Israel's present unbelief did not nullify God's promises. Instead, it fit within His larger plan of redemption, in which He continues to work with both Israel and the nations according to His appointed times.
Paul concludes the chapter by returning to one of Romans' central themes. The problem was never God's Law itself but humanity's misunderstanding of its purpose. The Gentiles obtained righteousness through faith, while many in Israel pursued righteousness through works of the Law, mistakenly treating obedience as something that could earn God's favor. The Law was never intended to justify sinners or secure salvation through human effort. Rather, it reveals God's righteous standard and points people to their need for His mercy. Obedience remains the proper response to faith, but it is not how anyone earns God's acceptance. Just as a child does not earn a parent's love by obeying household rules, God's children do not earn His love through obedience. They already possess that relationship through His grace, yet living according to His standards is the appropriate way to remain in fellowship with Him. Thus, Paul once again emphasizes that faith and obedience are not enemies but belong together in the life of everyone who responds to God's calling.
Epistles of Paul is a course taught at ABC by Mr. Steve Myers. Recordings from the 2023–2024 class year are available on the ABC website.
UYA Team | uya@ucg.org
United Young Adults (UYA) primarily serves the 18–32-year age group for the United Church of God. There are three main areas of contribution to the lives of young adults: Promoting Spiritual Growth, Developing Meaningful Relationships and Making the Most of Your Talents. The Know Your Sword series is a daily expository message introducing God’s Word from a trusted perspective.
