GOD'S SOVEREIGNTY IN MISSION

Passage: Romans 9:6-18

Key verse: 8

NIV

God’s Sovereign Choice

6 It is not as though God’s word(A) had failed. For not all who are descended from Israel are Israel.(B) 7 Nor because they are his descendants are they all Abraham’s children. On the contrary, “It is through Isaac that your offspring will be reckoned.”[a](C) 8 In other words, it is not the children by physical descent who are God’s children,(D) but it is the children of the promise who are regarded as Abraham’s offspring.(E) 9 For this was how the promise was stated: “At the appointed time I will return, and Sarah will have a son.”[b](F)

10 Not only that, but Rebekah’s children were conceived at the same time by our father Isaac.(G) 11 Yet, before the twins were born or had done anything good or bad(H)—in order that God’s purpose(I) in election might stand: 12 not by works but by him who calls—she was told, “The older will serve the younger.”[c](J) 13 Just as it is written: “Jacob I loved, but Esau I hated.”[d](K)

14 What then shall we say?(L) Is God unjust? Not at all!(M) 15 For he says to Moses,

“I will have mercy on whom I have mercy,
    and I will have compassion on whom I have compassion.”[e](N)

16 It does not, therefore, depend on human desire or effort, but on God’s mercy.(O) 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.”[f](P) 18 Therefore God has mercy on whom he wants to have mercy, and he hardens whom he wants to harden.(Q)

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Footnotes
  1. Romans 9:7 Gen. 21:12
  2. Romans 9:9 Gen. 18:10,14
  3. Romans 9:12 Gen. 25:23
  4. Romans 9:13 Mal. 1:2,3
  5. Romans 9:15 Exodus 33:19
  6. Romans 9:17 Exodus 9:16
Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
Source: BibleGateway

ESV

6 But it is not as though the word of God has failed. For not all who are descended from Israel belong to Israel, 7 and not all are children of Abraham (A)because they are his offspring, but (B)“Through Isaac shall your offspring be named.” 8 This means that it is not the children of the flesh who are the children of God, but (C)the children of the promise are counted as offspring. 9 For this is what the promise said: (D)“About this time next year I will return, and Sarah shall have a son.” 10 And not only so, but (E)also when Rebekah had conceived children by one man, our forefather Isaac, 11 though they were not yet born and had done nothing either good or bad—in order that God's purpose of election might continue, not because of works but because of (F)him who calls— 12 she was told, (G)“The older will serve the younger.” 13 As it is written, (H)“Jacob I loved, but Esau I hated.”

14 What shall we say then? (I)Is there injustice on God's part? By no means! 15 For he says to Moses, (J)“I will have mercy on whom I have mercy, and I will have compassion on whom I have compassion.” 16 So then it depends not on human will or exertion,[a] but on God, who has mercy. 17 For the Scripture says to Pharaoh, (K)“For this very purpose I have raised you up, that I might show my power in you, and that my name might be proclaimed in all the earth.” 18 So then he has mercy on whomever he wills, and he hardens whomever he wills.

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Footnotes
  1. Romans 9:16 Greek not of him who wills or runs
The Holy Bible, English Standard Version. ESV® Text Edition: 2016. Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers.
Source: BibleGateway

1. Abraham's true offspring (6-13)

God is Sovereign. God has a plan for world redemption. God promised Abraham that all nations would be blessed through his offspring. Israel's failure to accept God's Messiah does not mean that God failed. God blesses faith, not human privilege. Abraham had many children, but he only had one son of promise (9). Those who believe God's promises and live by them are true children of Abraham. In Genesis we can find many reasons why God should choose Jacob rather than Esau, but Paul is looking at history from God's point of view, so he doesn't mention human reasons. God wants us to trust him and to acknowledge his sovereignty.

2. To proclaim God's name in all the earth (14-18)

All sinners deserve to die; but God, in his mercy, made a plan to save sinners. Pharaoh would not acknowledge God, but the Sovereign God used him anyway; through him, God's mighty name was proclaimed in all the earth.

Prayer: Lord, I believe your promises; use me to proclaim your name in all the earth.

One Word: Believe God's promises