Romans 9 - 11.22.23

Scripture

Romans 9:20-21 But who are you, a human being, to talk back to God? “Shall what is formed say to the one who formed it, “Why did you make me like this?” Does not the potter have the right to make out of the same lump of clay some pottery for special purposes and some for common use?

Observation

The people of Israel were God’s chosen people. But not all would be saved, because they chose to continue to follow the law rather than follow by faith. They thought they could earn their salvation rather than rely on God. The Gentiles, on the other hand, recognized that they needed God’s mercy and followed by faith.

30 What then shall we say? That the Gentiles, who did not pursue righteousness, have obtained it, a righteousness that is by faith; 31 but the people of Israel, who pursued the law as the way of righteousness, have not attained their goal. 32 Why not? Because they pursued it not by faith but as if it were by works.

Application

“But it’s not fair!” The Jews, who had tried to earn their righteousness through the law, would feel it unfair for God to call anyone else “Children of the living God.”

God is God. He is in control. Sometimes things will not make sense to us. We do not know His plan. I think the Jews enslaved under Pharaoh thought that God had abandoned them. But God says that He lifted Pharoah up to later display His power and proclaim His name in all the earth. We learned on Sunday that Joseph was sold enslaved, and jailed in order that the Jews could survive the upcoming famine. But Joseph certainly didn’t know that during the years he was enslaved and in prison. David was promised to be the next king, and yet he had to run for his life and hide for years.

Will we trust God when things don’t make sense? We can fight and argue or even reject God when we encounter difficulties. Or we can trust that He has a plan.

Prayer

God, there have been many times when I have railed against what was happening, not understanding that You are in control. And there are things that have happened in my life that I don’t understand and never will in my lifetime. But I don’t get to serve you only in the good times. I have to trust that You have a plan, even when it is beyond my comprehension. I thank You that You are in control. And I thank You that You are with us when we are weary, poor, brokenhearted, sick, and grieving – that we don’t have to go through these things alone.

- Debbie Dunn