A Study Of The Book Of Romans Lesson #22 Series

I Am what I Am, by the Grace of God

Book of Romans

Lesson # 22

Romans 9:19 - 9:26

We have had several weeks of interruption in our study of the Book of Romans so let me give you a very quick synopsis of where we are and what the Apostle Paul is teaching in the middle of chapter 9.

What we have seen is that it is God alone who is the Righteous Judge and he alone has the right and the power to do as he sees fit, and who can question his judgments and purposes? He is God and he answers to no man, regardless of how men might try to judge him because God is righteous altogether, and he is ultimately fair and just in his treatment of all men. He alone knows the hearts of men and the beginning from the end, and he alone establishes his word in the earth to fulfill every prophetic utterance and every promise.

As we look back over recorded history, even from the Creation of all things, right down into these last days, we can rest assured that everything that has happening, is happening, and will happen, is all orchestrated for one ultimate purpose. That purpose is to fulfill the word of God and to bring about a predestined end of all things; to establish his righteous kingdom and to end the power of sin and death; and, of course, to establish righteousness in the hearts of those who choose to serve the Lord and become the adopted Children of God.

Nothing is by accident; all is by design, and whatever the Lord promises the nation of Israel in Jeremiah chapter 29, so does he promise the church as well. How can we say that? God never changes and he is ultimately just and fair, therefore, what he promises one of his people; he promises to all. In the ministry of the “Weeping Prophet” there has not been much good news, but now God, in his mercy, gives the ultimate of good news.

Jeremiah 29:10 For thus saith the LORD, That after seventy years be accomplished at Babylon I will visit you, and perform my good word toward you, in causing you to return to this place.

Jeremiah 29:11 For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the LORD, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end.

Jeremiah 29:12 Then shall ye call upon me, and ye shall go and pray unto me, and I will hearken unto you.

Jeremiah 29:13 And ye shall seek me, and find me, when ye shall search for me with all your heart.

Thank God that He saw in us a heart that would be broken and could be changed to serve him. Thank the Lord that we were created with a heart that he could touch, and a life that he can use. Thank God that we were raised up for such a time as this, so that we could all be used for his glory, to show his power, and to be a part of God’s great predestined plan for us in his Kingdom forever. Of all the people on the earth, we are blessed and highly favored, because God came to us, called us forth, gave us the ability to call upon his name, seek his face and to know him as Lord and Savior!

After all that God has done for man, and the plans he has for us, and his original design for the souls of men, how can men then call God unfair and uncaring? In spite of God’s absolute goodness, all men want to do is accuse God of every evil that besets them. How it must hurt the heart of God to have those whom he loves so much, turn on him in an act of ultimate treason and call him unfaithful.

In Romans 9:19, the Apostle Paul now continues with this same train of thought that man is ever attempting to belittle, to deny, to accuse God, when in fact, every evil that besets man is a result of man’s own lustful heart.

Romans 9:19 Thou wilt say then unto me, Why doth he yet find fault? For who hath resisted his will?

Paul now begins to expound upon the warped sense of vision and spiritual understanding that plagues the Jews, and I might add, still plagues most of mankind even to this day.

God is infinitely good, just and merciful, but that’s not how man sees him. Instead, like the Jews, we will say, “Look here, if God knows the end from the beginning; if God knows the hearts of all men; if God knows that man is weak, sinful and spiritually blind; if God has already established that his will shall be done; then why does God find fault with us if we don’t do as he desires?