Some Key Words (10/25/00-10/27/00)

Injustice (adikia [93]):

not conformable with justice, what ought not to be, wrong; unrighteousness of heart and life, violation of law and justice; wrongfulness of character, life, or act

Have mercy (eleeo [1653]):

to have pity, be compassionate, show mercy, extend help; to help the afflicted; to be compassionate in word or deed

Have compassion (oikteiro [3627]):

to have pity, have compassion on; to exercise pity

Wills (thelo [2309]):

to will to do something and act on that willing, resolve, elective inclination, to be decided upon seeing one's desire done, to be inclined, to wish or desire; to intend, have in mind, to be resolved or determined, to like to do, take delight in; to choose or prefer, to wish, to be about to

Runs (trecho [5143]):

person in haste, one who runs on a race course, to exert oneself, strive, to spend one's strength in the attaining; to run or walk hastily

Power (dunamis [1411]):

inherent power, ability; strength, power for miracles, moral power, the power of riches or numbers; force

Name (onoma [3686]):

the name - which helps us know the thing named, the name as describing the thing named, as describing character, reputation, the name as implying authority, the name as representing the person, delegated power and authority; the name - indicating all that is covered by the name - feelings and thoughts that arise at hearing or remembering it, the cause or reason named; authority, character

Proclaimed (diaggello [1229]):

to announce, declare plainly; to carry a message through, announce everywhere; to herald thoroughly

Hardens (skleruno [4645]):

to make stiff, make obdurate; to render or become obstinate or stubborn;

Answer back (antapokrinomai [470]):

to answer against, to make an argumentative reply, dispute; to contradict in reply, answer by contradiction;

Make known (gnorizo [1107]):

to know - generally by divine communication; to be recognized, to gain knowledge of;

Endured (phero [5342]):

to bear fruit, sustain, bear with, to be carried, to be made apparent; to carry a burden, to convey by bearing - used of ships, wind, mental movement; to bring forward, to lead; to bear or carry

Patience (makrothumia [3115]):

forbearance, longsuffering, one who refrains from using power, a long holding of the passions before acting upon them, patience towards persons vs. situations; endurance, steadfastness, perseverance, slowness in avenging wrongs; fortitude

Prepared (katartizo [2675]):

to adjust, fit, complete, to put in its appropriate position, establish, adapt, finish, instruct fully or perfectly; to mend, equip, put in order, strengthen, perfect, make what one ought to be; to complete thoroughly

Destruction (apoleia [684]):

the losing or loss, perdition, ruin, the exclusion from salvation after death, destruction or waste; utter destruction, perishing, eternal hell; ruin or loss

Riches (ploutos [4149]):

wealth, abundance of possessions, the good with which one is enriched; fullness, valuable bestowment

Glory (doxa [1391]):

appearance, reputation, due recognition, renown, that which catches the eye, commanding recognition, the excellence of the divine nature; a good opinion, an estimate concerning someone, splendor, brightness, magnificence, preeminence, majesty, a most exalted state; very apparent glory

Prepared beforehand (proetoimazo [4282]):

to make ready beforehand; to fit up in advance

Called (kaleo [2564]):

to call, invite, to name or be called by name; to call aloud, to call by name, give name to, receive as a name, to bear a name or title;

 

Paraphrase: (10/25/00)

14 Don't think I'm showing God to be unjust. No way! 15 God declared to Moses that He would be merciful and compassionate to whom He chose. 16 It has nothing to do with man's desires or man's accomplishments, only on God's choosing to have mercy. 17 The word to Pharaoh was that he was made powerful for the very purpose of allowing God to demonstrate that He is more powerful, and that His glory would spread far and wide. 18 It's His choice; mercy to whom He will, and hardening to whom He will.

19 I know. You're thinking He has no call to find fault with you if it's all about His will, for how could you resist Him? 20 But you ought to be asking yourself how you can dare to find fault with God. Does the molded dare to ask the molder why it has been made such as it is? 21 Or is it the potter's right to make of the same clay both fine vessels and plain? 22 Is it possible that God is actually demonstrating great patience with those vessels meant for destruction, demonstrating His righteous wrath only as necessary to make His power known? 23 And even these demonstrations are only made so that He might make His glory evident in those vessels meant for mercy, those He prepared beforehand to have that glory, 24 us, the called, not Jews alone, but also Gentiles.

Key Verse: (10/25/00)

9:16 - Neither man's will, nor his works decide his calling, but only God's mercy.

People Mentioned: (10/25/00)

Moses

Born in Egypt, and adopted by Pharaoh's daughter (Ex 2:10). Fled Egypt after killing a guard, taking residence in Midian (Ex 2:14-2:21). Met God in a burning bush, receiving word that he would be sent to free the Jews in Egypt (Ex 3:1-4:31). Performed many miracles by God's hand in Egypt, until the Jews were freed to go (Ex 7:1-13:22). Led Israel through the desert for 40 years (Ex 14:1-24:14). Met with God on Mount Sinai (Ex 24:15-18). Instructed by God on the building of the tabernacle (Ex 25:1-31:17). Received the Law of God (Ex 31:18). Refused to go on without God's presence (Ex 33:12-17). Prayed to be shown God's glory (Ex 33:18). Oversaw the building of the tabernacle (Ex 35:20-40:33). Could not enter the tabernacle because of the cloud of God's presence within (Ex 40:35). The LORD spoke to Moses (Lev, Nu, Dt). The LORD knew Moses face to face (Dt 34:10). Appeared with Elijah at Jesus' transfiguration (Mt 17:3, Mk 9:4, Lk 9:30). Moses and the Prophets pointed to Jesus in their words. (Lk 16:31, Jn 5:46, Ac 26:22-23).

 

Some Parallel Verses (10/27/00-10/28/00)

9:14

Ro 3:5 - God is not unrighteous in displaying His wrath. 2Ch 19:7 - God will not take part in unrighteousness or partiality. He cannot be bribed. Ro 2:11 - There is no partiality with God.

9:15

Ex 33:19 - God is merciful and compassionate to whom He wills.

9:16

Gal 2:2 - Paul submitted his teachings to the private judgement of the apostles to assure himself that his work was not in vain. Eph 2:8 - God in His grace has imparted faith to us to save us.

9:17

Ex 9:16 - God allowed Pharaoh to continue his rule so that God could display His power to the world in dealing with Pharaoh.

9:18

Ex 4:21, 7:3 - God warns Moses that He will harden Pharaoh's heart, Ex 9:12, 10:20, 10:27, 11:10 - and so He did. Ex 14:4, 14:17 - God hardened Pharaoh's heart so that He would be honored through Egypt's army. Dt 2:30 - The king of Heshbon was also hardened so that he would be delivered into the hands of Israel. Jos 11:20 - And so with the people of Gibeon. Jn 12:40 - Thus Isaiah spoke of the people of Jesus' day, that God would harden their hearts such that they would not receive Jesus' teaching. Ro 11:7 - Those who were chosen by God obtained His salvation, the rest were hardened, Ro 11:25 - but the hardening of Israel is a partial thing until all the chosen of the Gentiles have come in.

9:19

Ro 3:7 - If God's truth is more evident by my lie, why am I declared a sinner? 2Ch 20:6 - None can stand against God's power. Job 9:12 - None has the right to question His actions. Dan 4:35 - He does as He wills in heaven and earth. None can stop His hand, nor can they question His actions.

9:20

Ro 2:1 - In our judgements, we condemn ourselves for we judge the same actions we do, leaving ourselves no excuse. Job 33:13 - How can we demand an accounting from God? Is 29:16 - The potter and the clay are not equals. The pot cannot deny its maker, nor complain of its design. Is 45:9 - The one who complains so about his creator is endangering himself. Is 64:8 - We are all the work of God's hands. Jer 18:6 - Israel is to God as clay is to the potter, to be shaped by His hands and His will. 2Ti 2:20 - Beautiful and plain, precious and common, honorable and dishonorable, all kinds of vessels are in the house.

9:21

9:22

Ro 2:4 - God's kindness leads us to repentance, where His righteous wrath could have destroyed us instead. Pr 16:4 - God makes everything for its purpose, even the wicked. 1Pe 2:8 - Those who are disobedient to God's word were appointed to disobedience by Him to their doom.

9:23

Eph 3:16 - His Spirit strengthens us by His granting, and to His glory. Ac 9:15 - Paul was a chosen instrument of God. Ro 8:29-30 - He has predestined those He has chosen to fill the callings He has placed upon them.

9:24

Ro 8:28 - He works all to the good of those He calls to His purpose. Ro 3:29 - He is God to all - Jew and Gentile alike.

 

New Thoughts (10/29/00)

There are two things really being communicated to me in this passage. First is the thought summed up in verse 16. His choice of us is all that has saved us. Our works haven't earned it, and of ourselves we were incapable of desiring or choosing it. Moses stands as one great example of this truth. His actions certainly hadn't done anything to recommend himself to God. So far, the acts of his own choosing had led to two murders, and running away from justice on top of it. Furthermore, it was not his desire to go back and save Israel. He was perfectly happy to see them saved, but by another means, please. But God had chosen him from before his birth to fill the office he was being called to. God called him - most effectively and unequivocally. Moses did not say "I'd like to," God said "You will." And he did. In spite of his estimation of his own worth and ability, he stood before Pharaoh and did as God commanded, displaying God's power to the freeing of the Israelites. And what happened with Moses? As God continued to work in him, he became more and more attuned to God's desire, and became more and more hungry for what God desired. He went from "send somebody else" to "show me Your face." What a transformation of character! Yet the old man was still there. He was still capable of fits of anger. But God had so transformed him that they became the exception rather than the rule. And, although the remnants of the old man within him kept him from the land of promise during his earthly life, God chose to honor him with the privilege of standing on His holy mountain to see the Son.

I, too, am transformed by God's activities in my life. I am changed from the scoffing atheist of my youth to a firm believer in the truth of God. I am changed from a foul-mouthed lying cheat to a man who desires to be honorable in all his dealings. Oh, but I fail miserably! There remains much of the old man in me, and the tongue slips too easily into its old ways. But I know that He is working. I know by the examples of Scripture that the change continues. I know how far I've come, and how far I have yet to travel, and I know that He is faithful to complete what He has begun in me. Oh, how I look forward to that day, Father, when You complete that work and bring me home! What a glorious day, when we all can see the struggle finally completed, the work accomplished, and nothing left but to glory in Your presence!

But there's another thing that's shouting at me from this study. In spite of myself, I find I am really and thoroughly bothered by the seeming injustice. How can it be right and good that some are created for no end but destruction? It was hard enough to accept the wrath of a loving God against Esau. Now, I am presented with a God who creates vessels He Himself despises. And there's no reason offered, nor any avenue of inquiry left available. The answer from on high is "Who dares to question me?" Forgive me, Lord, but You have also said that I am Your friend, and not Your slave because I am given to understand what You are doing. Father, in this I don't understand. I don't ask You to justify Yourself, for how would one justify justice? Paul has turned the question around to "who do you think you are, questioning your maker?" Myself, I find the question turning more to "how can You bear to allow any of us to continue?" The seeming injustice cuts both ways, doesn't it? In fact, this later turn of thought is probably the more accurate assessment. Since it's none of our own doing that we have come to You, it's reasonable to say that all of us were hardened by our very nature. Sure, that leads me to the inevitable "Why did You make us like this?" But that, at least, I feel is answered. You made us like this so that You could display Your great mercy towards those of us You chose to. You made us like this so that we could come to You willingly, rather than simply because we could do no other thing. So, then, the seeming injustice is not so much in the fact that You leave some in their original state, but in the fact that You choose to save some. Ah, but this is also leading into that question of free will. If You made us like this so that we could freely choose to come to You, then how is it that we cannot so choose unless You choose to enable us? How is that will free that depends on Your prior will? God, I confess, I'm perplexed by these things. I know You have answers. I know Your ways and Your thoughts are beyond me to understand. I know You have, in many ways at many times, bent Your thoughts down to a level I can understand, and - although it may seem importunate, I pray that You would do so in this instance. No, my faith in You is not shaken, for my faith in You is not founded on such. But I am perplexed, I am at a loss to know how these things can be. I just want to know more of who You are, Lord, and this seems an integral part of You. Creation - even on my limited basis - is such an expression of self, so Your creation must also be an expression of Your self. Lead me, Father, into such understanding as You are willing to provide. Lead me into contentment with that degree of understanding. I pray that as this study continues, You will somehow bring a clarity to this issue, large as it may be.