Romans 9:16 - 21

[Sugar_Ray]

I’ve been struggling with the pre-determinist nature of these verses. I know the Church teaches we have free will…but how does that square with these verses.

Thanks

 

[PraRFLEsEkHm]

Hi
I think the highlighted verses below are a start of an answer to your question:

Rom 9:16 So it depends not upon man’s will or exertion, but upon God’s mercy.
17 For the scripture says to Pharaoh, “I have raised you up for the very purpose of showing my power in you, so that my name may be proclaimed in all the earth.”
18 So then he has mercy upon whomever he wills, and he hardens the heart of whomever he wills.
19 You will say to me then, “Why does he still find fault? For who can resist his will?”
20 But who are you, a man, to answer back to God? Will what is molded say to its molder, “Why have you made me thus?”
21 Has the potter no right over the clay, to make out of the same lump one vessel for beauty and another for menial use?
22 What if God, desiring to show his wrath and to make known his power, has endured with much patience the vessels of wrath made for destruction,
23 in order to make known the riches of his glory for the vessels of mercy, which he has prepared beforehand for glory,

God has mercy on all of us - and wants us ALL to be ‘saved’. However, being God He also knows who will, and who will NOT answer that call from Him. I think the verse about Pharao, and all those who will be lost, says that God allowed them to live anyway, even though He knows what they will choose - to show His power and Glory through them, and His mercy in that they made a choice to not believe, and a choice to ‘do their own thing’. As well as for our perfection in the struggle against evil and temptation.

God did not force them, nor does He forcs anyone to resist HIm - He merely removes His comfort and strength - like He does everyone from time to time - and they made their own choices from there. Perhaps God was trying to save the Egyptians after the Israelites left (Another reason for the plagues would be in that then as well) but Pharao resisted that salvation, and ended up dying in the Red Sea because of it, hence the Miracle of the parting.

(Edit) We must remember that we are reading Gods word, in other words - what God sees, He KNEW Pharao would resist - hence, being God - He could not say truthfully, that His (Gods) removal of His comfort and strength altogether did not harden Pharao’s heart - because He knew that by removing His comfort and Strength Pharao WOULD harden his heart. God is taking responsibility here by saying He hardened his heart - even though Pharao made the choice to do so.

Hope this helps

Peace

John

 

[NotWorthy]

The following commentaries come from the NAB:

[14-18] The principle of divine election does not invite Christians to theoretical inquiry concerning the nonelected, nor does this principle mean that God is unfair in his dealings with humanity. The instruction concerning divine election is a part of the gospel and reveals that the gift of faith is the enactment of God’s mercy (Romans 9:16). God raised up Moses to display that mercy, and Pharaoh to display divine severity in punishing those who obstinately oppose their Creator.

[18] The basic biblical principle is: those who will not see or hear shall not see or hear. On the other hand, the same God who thus makes stubborn or hardens the heart can reconstruct it through the work of the holy Spirit.

[19-29] The apostle responds to the objection that if God rules over faith through the principle of divine election, God cannot then accuse unbelievers of sin (Romans 9:19). For Paul, this objection is in the last analysis a manifestation of human insolence, and his “answer” is less an explanation of God’s ways than the rejection of an argument that places humanity on a level with God. At the same time, Paul shows that God is far less arbitrary than appearances suggest, for God endures with much patience (Romans 9:22) a person like the Pharaoh of the Exodus.

Notworthy