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"I will have mercy on whomever I will have mercy..."

Text: Romans 9:15

A PROFOUND FEATURE OF GOD’S SOVEREIGNTY

One of the most challenging things to comprehend is the doctrine of the Sovereignty of God. However, no matter how difficult this doctrine was to understand and accept, it nevertheless had to be expounded. Paul stated this doctrine of God’s sovereignty quite bluntly.

“For He says to Moses,
‘I will have mercy on whomever I will have mercy,
and I will have compassion on whomever I will have compassion.’
So then it is not of him who wills, nor of him who runs,
but of God who shows mercy.”
Romans 9:15-16

1. Where people may object and be offended

a) Man is totally at the mercy of God.

b) Man cannot influence God in any way.

c) Man has “no say” in the matter of dispensation of God’s mercy.

2. An attempt to comprehend the profundity of the sovereignty of God’s will

a) The historical context of the above quotation (Cf. Exodus 32-34)

i) Israel had sinned gravely against God by worshipping a golden calf.

ii) God was so angry that He threatened to destroy the whole nation.

Israel had just been redeemed from Egypt; yet they had ascribed their deliverance to the golden calf that had just been created!

b) Moses had stood in the gap praying for Israel

i) He offered to sacrifice his life for the sake of the nation.

ii) He pleaded for God’s mercy to be bestowed!

c) God’s reply (quoted by Paul)

i) God reserves the prerogative to bestow mercy and compassion on whomever He chooses.

ii) Man cannot determine for God His choice (not by any means!). Not by human will, nor by any other means!