Romans 9:16-18 (NIV)

16 It does not, therefore, depend on human desire or effort, but on God’s mercy. 17 For Scripture says to Pharaoh: “I raised you up for this very purpose, that I might display my power in you and that my name might be proclaimed in all the earth.” 18 Therefore God has mercy on whom he wants to have mercy, and he hardens whom he wants to harden.

Reflection:

We find here a very difficult passage, with Paul starting off with the rhetorical argument - is God unfair? (of course not!) God alone decides who to show mercy to (choosing people according to his own purposes) - we can neither choose it nor work for it. It is completely out of our hands, and does not depend on human desire or effort. Paul uses the argument of Pharaoh to show that salvation was all of God’s work, and not people’s. God in His sovereign love showed us (though undeserving) His mercy - how sweet is that!

Responding to the Transmission:

God is God, and we are not. We have received much mercy and now we are part of God’s family! Let us lift our eyes to the One who is sovereign and full of unfailing love. As we are praying for salvation to come, may God have mercy on us and to those that we are ministering to.