Romans 9:15...21 - God is Sovereign, as well as, Just, Gracious and Compassionate.
Romans 9:15...21 (NIV) For he says to Moses,
"I will have mercy on whom I have mercy, and I
will have compassion on whom I have compassion."
Does not the potter have the right to make
out of the same lump of clay some pottery for
noble purposes and some for common use?
Romans 9:15...21 (NLT) For God said to
Moses, I will show mercy to anyone I choose, and
I will show compassion to anyone I choose.
When a potter makes jars out of clay,
doesnt he have a right to use the same lump of clay
to make one jar for decoration and another to
throw garbage into?
Romans 9:15...21 (AMP) For He says to Moses,
I will have mercy on whom I will have mercy
and I will have compassion (pity) on whom I will
have compassion. That nature (creation)
itself will be set free from its bondage to decay
and corruption [and gain an entrance] into the
glorious freedom of God's children.
Romans 9:15...21 (CWR) God even told Moses,
I will be gracious to whom I will be gracious,
and I will be merciful to whom I will be
merciful. Doesn't the one who makes the jar have
the right to choose what kind to make? Doesn't
he make some jars for special use and others
for everyday use, whatever is needed?
INTRODUCTION
This is a magnificent expression of the
sovereignty of God, whereby Yahweh inevitably and
without exception accomplishes His will and purpose
through free-willed agents acting freely but
responsibly. Man must be a free agent to be in the image
of God, and God must be immutable, i.e.,
unchanging, in order to be God (Mal. 3:6). Permitting or
overruling the acts of man without infringing upon his
freedom or interrupting his responsibility (e.g.,
the brothers of Joseph in Gen. 37:26-28; 45:5)
is an awesome expression of God's providence.
[Believers SB re Pro. 16:9]
God in His wisdom chooses the agencies by
whom He accomplishes His purposes. If those whom
He selects to perform a certain office fail, He
chooses others to take their place. Men are
admonished to cooperate with Heavens plans, and not
to run if the Lord has not called them (see
Jer. 23:21)
God reserves to Himself perfect freedom
to deal with men on His own conditions, and not
on theirs, without, of course, interfering with
their opportunity for personal salvation
Some theologians have been led to read
into these verses ideas that Paul never intended.
Calvin understood them to mean that God arbitrarily
created some men for salvation and others for
destruction. Such a concept of Gods purpose is not in
agreement with Pauls explanation elsewhere in this
same epistle that God shows not partiality (Rom.
2:11) but judges each man according to his works
(ch. 2:6"10; cf. ch. 3:22, 23) and will save
everyone who calls upon Him (ch. 10:12, 13). [SDA
Bible Commentary]
COMMENTARY PEARL
Even Your Weaknesses Bring Glory to God
Spiritual gifts, Heart, Abilities,
Personality, Experiences - these are the five things that
make you, you. I call them your SHAPE.
Accepting your SHAPE - the unique way God
made you to bring glory to him - means to believe
God knows best. It all comes down to a matter of
trust. Do you believe God made a mistake when he
made you? Or do you trust him, knowing he has a
plan for your life?
Many of us make these kinds of statements
to God: There are things I dont like about
myself. I wish I had a different hair color. I wish
I were taller, shorter, skinnier. I wish I had
more talent. I wish I could do that. I wish
I looked like him. I wish I had her smarts.
And on and on our lists go.
This kind of thinking is basically
telling God, You blew it! Everybody else is okay.
But you goofed up when you made me.
When you reject yourself, you are in
essence rejecting God, because hes your Creator.
When you dont accept yourself, its
rebellion against God. Youre saying, God, I know
better than you. You should have made me
differently, with a different set of strengths and a
different set of weaknesses.
But God says, No, I created you
exactly the way you are because I want you to be
you"with your strengths and your weaknesses. All of
it can give me glory - if youll just start
doing what I made you to do instead of trying to
be like everybody else.
Its actually quite arrogant to reject
yourself. The Bible says in Romans 9:20, My friend,
I ask, Who do you think you are to question
God? Does the clay have the right to ask the
potter why he shaped it the way he did?
(CEV).
Whenever you doubt Gods love and
wisdom, you get into trouble. The root behind many
of lifes problems is that you dont trust
God. You dont believe God really loves you.
You dont believe he really has your best
interest at heart. You wish he had made you something
different. As a result, you have a spirit of bitterness
that produces frustration and keeps you from
being the person God wants you to be.
But you dont have to live that way -
there is hope! Job 10:10 says, You guided my
conception and formed me in the womb (NLT). God
wanted you, and he loves you. He shaped you just
the way you are for his glory. Believe it, and
then trust it! [Daily Devotional by Rick Warren:
https://pastorrick.com/devotional/]
COMMENTARY
He Is God
Theologians love to speculate about what
God will and won't do. Huge theological debates
surround the issue of whom God will save and whom He
will not save. Some of those self-appointed
critics complain that God is not being fair or just
in His dealing with people, speaking as if God
is somehow accountable to us for His actions.
While it is true that God remains consistent with
Himself and that He has set forth His standards and
expectations in Scripture, we are foolish to think that
we can evaluate, much less judge, what He
chooses to do. Ultimately God will save whom He will
save and judge those He chooses to judge
because He is God! He is sovereign! He is not
answerable to us. He is also infinitely wise. He knows
every person's heart and motive. He is not fooled
by appearances. God is perfectly, infinitely
just. We don't need to try to understand all of
God's actions. It is enough to know that
everything He does is just, loving, and good. [Being
Still With God Every Day by Henry Blackaby re vs.
15]
On the Potters Wheel
I once visited a potters house in
Greece and tried my hand at throwing the clay. It
was a lot harder than I thought. The potter, on
the other hand, was very capable. He could take
lumps of nothingness and form it into amazing
pots.
Writing to the believers in Rome, the
apostle Paul said, Who are you, a mere human
being, to argue with God? Should the thing that was
created say to the one who created it, Why have
you made me like this? When a potter makes
jars out of clay, doesnt he have a right to
use the same lump of clay to make one jar for
decoration and another to throw garbage into?
(Romans 9:20"21 NLT).
God has us on His wheel, and we decide
whether to be resistant or pliable. We can actually
sabotage Gods plans for our lives. Gods plans
for us are better than our plans for ourselves.
But we can still sabotage them by being
resistant.
Yes, God chooses you, but you must choose
Him as well.
Philippians 2 says, Work hard to show
the results of your salvation, obeying God with
deep reverence and fear. For God is working in
you, giving you the desire and the power to do
what pleases him (verses 12"13 NLT).
God has a plan. Dont sabotage it. I
know things seem random at times. There are times
when Ive said, Lord, I dont get this at
all. This makes no sense to me.
But heres what I do understand. God
loves me. God chose me. And He is in control of my
life.
His plan for you will come together. It
all will make sense one day. Maybe not today.
Maybe not tomorrow. But one day. Until that day,
be pliable clay on the Potters wheel. And
watch what the Lord will do. [Greg Laurie from
Harvest Ministries; https://www.harvestdaily.com re
Ephesians 2:10]
ILLUSTRATION
Thump-Thud, Thump-Thud
When a potter bakes a pot, he checks its
solidity by pulling it out of the oven and thumping
it. If it sings, its ready. If it
thuds, its placed back in the oven.
The character of a person is also checked
by thumping. Been thumped lately?
Late-night phone calls. Grouchy teacher.
Grumpy moms. Burnt meals. Flat tires.
Youve-got-to-be-kidding deadlines. Those are thumps. Thumps are
those irritating inconveniences that trigger the
worst in us. They catch us off guard. Flat-footed.
They arent big enough to be crises, but if you
get enough of them, watch out! Traffic jams.
Long lines. Empty mailboxes. Dirty clothes on the
floor. Even as I write this, Im being thumped.
Because of interruptions, it has taken me almost two
hours to write these two paragraphs. Thump. Thump.
Thump.
How do I respond? Do I sing? Or do I thud?
Jesus said that out of the nature of the
heart a man speaks (Luke 6:45). Theres nothing
like a good thump to reveal the nature of a
heart. The true character of a person is seen not
in momentary heroics but in the thump-packed
humdrum of day-to-day living.
If you have a tendency to thud more than
you sing, take heart.
The true character of a person is seen
not in momentary heroics but in the thump-packed
humdrum of day-to day living.
There is hope for us thudders:
1. Begin by thanking God for thumps. I
dont mean a half-hearted thank-you. I mean a
rejoicing, jumping-for-joy thank-you from the bottom of
your heart (James 1:2). Chances are that God is
doing the thumping. And hes doing it for your
own good. So every thump is a reminder that God
is molding you (Heb. 12:5"8).
2. Learn from each thump. Face up to the
fact that you are not thump-proof. You are
going to be tested from now on. You might as well
learn from the thumps"you cant avoid them.
Look upon each inconvenience as an opportunity to
develop patience and persistence. Each thump will
help you or hurt you, depending on how you use
it.
3. Be aware of thump-slump times.
Know your pressure periods. For me Mondays are
infamous for causing thump-slumps. Fridays can be
just as bad. For all of us, there are times
during the week when we can anticipate an unusual
amount of thumping. The best way to handle
thump-slump times? Head on. Bolster yourself with extra
prayer, and dont give up.
Remember, no thump is disastrous. All
thumps work for good if we are loving and obeying
God. [Max Lucado Daily Devotional at
maxlucado.com] re Isaiah 64:8
CLOSING THOUGHT
When we experience hardships, we usually
wonder why God allows these painful situations to
come our way. It just doesn't seem to fit with
His role as our loving heavenly Father. We
struggle to reconcile our suffering with His love for
us and His power to prevent or stop it. In
order to understand what's going on, we need to
consider the possible sources of adversity.
A Fallen World: When sin entered the
world, suffering came with it. God could have
protected us from these harmful effects by making us
like puppets who could not choose sin, but that
would mean we'd also be unable to choose to love
Him, because love must be voluntary.
Our Own Doing: Sometimes we get ourselves
into trouble with our foolish or sinful choices.
If the Lord stepped in and rescued us from
every negative consequence, we'd never grow into
mature believers.
Satanic Attack: The Devil is our enemy.
To hinder anything the Lord wants to do in and
through believers, Satan will never cease to harass
us. His goal is to destroy our lives and our
testimonies, thereby making us weak and useless for God's
purposes.
God's Sovereignty: Ultimately, the Lord
is in charge of all adversity that comes our
way. To deny His involvement contradicts His
power and sovereignty over creation.
For us to accept that God allows--or even
sends--afflictions, we must see adversity from His perspective.
Is your focus on the pain of your experience or
on the Lord and His faithfulness? As believers,
we're assured that no adversity comes our way
unless He can use it to achieve His good purposes.
[In Touch Daily Devotional by Charles Stanley at
www.intouch.org] re Isaiah 45:5-10
PRACTICAL APPLICATIONS
I am the Potter; you are My clay. I
designed you before the foundation of the world. I
arrange the events of each day to form you into this
preconceived pattern. My everlasting Love is at work in
every event of your life. On some days your will
and Mine flow smoothly together. You tend to
feel in control of your life when our wills are
in harmony. On other days you feel as if you
are swimming upstream, against the current of My
purposes. When that happens, stop and seek My Face.
The opposition you feel may be from Me, or it
may be from the evil one.
Talk with Me about what you are
experiencing. Let My Spirit guide you through treacherous
waters. As you move through the turbulent stream
with Me, let circumstances mold you into the one
I desire you to be. Say yes to your Potter as
you go through this day. (Isa. 64:8; Psa. 27:8)
[Jesus Calling by Sarah Young]
I am calling you to live joyfully in the
midst of your struggles. You yearn for a freer,
more independent way of life than you're
currently experiencing. You pray fervently - and then
wait hopefully for the changes you desire. When I
don't answer your prayers according to your will,
you sometimes get discouraged. It's easy for you
to feel as if you're doing something wrong - as
if you're missing out on what is best for you.
When you think that way, you are forgetting a
most important truth: that I am Sovereign. I am
in control, and I am taking care of you.
I want you to accept your dependent way
of living as a gift from Me. Moreover, I want
you to receive this gift joyfully - with a glad
and thankful heart. Actually, nothing will lift
you out of the doldrums faster than thanking and
praising Me. And nothing will help you enjoy My
Presence more delightfully! Enter My gates with
thanksgiving and My courts with praise. (Isa. 40:10; Rom.
9:20; Psa. 100:4, 5) [Jesus Today by Sarah Young]
LINK FOR FURTHER STUDY ON THIS TOPIC
Proverbs 16:9 - Divine Detours.
http://www.abible.com/devotions/2020/20200708-1029.html
YOUR COMMENTS
If anyone has a paraphrase, commentary or
testimony on this passage of Scripture, either
personal or otherwise, I would be interested in
hearing from you. Thanks in advance and let's keep
uplifting Jesus that all might be drawn to Him. Fred
Gibbs
LINKS WORTH CHECKING OUT
Most Important Decision in Life:
http://www.youtube.com/embed/WGnEuGwvXqU?rel=0
Steps to Peace by Billy Graham:
https://stepstopeace.org/
A Man without Equal by Bill Bright:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NiVa7UoruIo
Seeking God Made Real:
http://vimeo.com/31489782
Prayer Made Real:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tc8VdMV26VE
Importance of Choice:
http://creationhealth.com/CREATION-Health/Choice [click on video]
Medical Seminar on Healthful Living by David
DeRose, MD, MPH:
https://www.smartlifestyletv.com/lifestart
LINKS FOR BIBLE STUDIES
Lifting Up Jesus Bible Studies:
http://www.liftingupjesus.net/
Amazing Facts Bible Studies:
http://www.amazingfacts.org/bible-study/bible-study-guides.aspx
Hope Awakens Bible Study Guides:
https://www.hopeawakens.study/lesson-header;id=2
Glow Tract Video Bible Studies:
http://www.bibleresearch.info/
LINKS FOR BIBLE PROPHECY SEMINARS
Islam and Christianity in Prophecy, The
Third and Final Conflict by Tim Roosenberg:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gHSJB-fuHLU&list=PLWhQIHGTHlkaGg5Cwe3NDzWtFX8vNSpsE
Unlocking Bible Prophecies by Cami Oetman of
Adventist World Radio: https://www.awr.org/bible
Revelation Now by Pastor Doug Batchelor:
https://www.revelationnow.com/
Hope Awakens by John Bradshaw of IIW:
https://itiswritten.tv/programs/hope-awakens
Prophecies Decoded by Pastor Ron Clouzet:
https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL1A435C5373550657
