Children of the Promise

July 13

2 Chronicles 1-2

Psalm 80:1-3

Proverbs 17:25-26

Romans 9

Children of the Promise

“That is, it is not the children by physical descent who are God’s children, but the children of the promise are considered to be the offspring. What should we say then?  Is there injustice with God?  Absolutely not!  For He tells Moses, ‘I will show mercy to whom I will show mercy, and I will have compassion on whom I will have compassion.’  So, then it does not depend on human will or effort but on God who shows mercy.”

 Romans 9:8, 14-16 HCSB

Chapter 9 teaches us that it is not natural children that are God’s children, but rather children of the promise.  The promise comes through faith in Jesus, not by works of the Law.  The Israelites pursued righteousness by the law and did not obtain it.  The Gentiles pursued it by faith and obtained righteousness through faith in Jesus.  This chapter is a stark reminder that faith in Christ is the only thing that saves us.  Paul is saddened by Israel’s rejection of the Messiah because God has given her so many opportunities as His chosen people.  He entered covenant with them, He gave them the Law, the promises, the temple, and the prophets. He also gave them the privilege of having the Messiah come from among them.  God kept all His promises to Israel and yet they were not faithful, and they rejected Him.

Paul then examines the question of God’s mercy.  In Western culture, we have a deep sense of personal responsibility.  We believe that we should work for what we get, everyone should get what they deserve.  It is a matter of pride to not accept something that you haven’t earned.  Paul is addressing that idea here.  He is insisting that no one can claim that God is unjust because He shows mercy to some and not to others because none of us deserve mercy in the first place.  In our minds, we would give mercy to the ones who seem the most deserving of the mercy. So, the ones that look like they are trying the hardest would get the mercy.  But then that would still make it about works.  Paul is trying to hammer home the fact that God is sovereign.  He gets to decide who He gives mercy to and who He doesn’t.  He is the one who makes the rules.  We don’t get a say.  Again, the Western culture in us pushes back at this because we are used to living in a democracy where we get a vote, we get to help determine the outcome, our voice is heard, our opinion matters.  That works well when we are dealing with humans because we are not infallible.  No one of us really knows best in every situation.  We are better as a group when we can all have input, voice our opinions, and come up with the best solution.  But God does know what is best, every single time.  He can see the end and He knows the best solution to every problem.  His will and His plans are perfect. We may not understand them or like them, but we can be confident that whatever He chooses to do is right.