Does God Know What He is Doing?
(Romans 9:1-5)
Introduction to Romans 9:1-11:36
In verse 1-6a, Paul answers the question, “If God is sovereign and works in hearts to create belief or hardens hearts, if He knows the future, and He has promised to exalt Israel, how do we account for Israel’s by-and-large unbelief in Jesus as the promised Messiah?”
These chapters address this. God is indeed sovereign and knew the future when He made promises to Israel. Jewish unbelief serves God’s purpose (to glorify Himself via believing gentiles), but in the end times He will sovereignly work in the hearts of the Jewish people so that He can keep the promises He made.
In the process, He brings up many subjects that make us want to slow down, learn, apply, and grow.
We believe that the Scriptures are clear, but we human believers have a problem. Sometimes our hearts are hard, our minds biased, and we are sinners still. The fault is ours, not God’s Word. Like the disciples of the road to Emmaus, Jesus at times says to us, “O foolish ones, and slow of heart to believe all that the prophets have spoken!”
So it shouldn’t surprise us that sometimes we are wrong in our interpretations, and sometimes the greater Christian community – at all levels of academic excellence – disagree when it comes to the implications of these chapters. I will present my understanding of these verses in the spirit of 2 Timothy 2:15 (doing my best to interpret correctly); you need to decide for yourself how accurate my understanding is on some points.
Romans, chapter 9 in particular
Chiasm in Romans 9:1-29
A. (9:1-5) Israel, mostly in unbelief
B. (9-6-13) God’s plan via election (His choosing) stands
C. (9:14) An important question
D. (9-15-16) God’s choice as to how He shows mercy
D’. (9:17-18) ) God’s choice as to how He shows mercy
C’. (9:19) An important question
B’. (9:20-23) God’s right to elect (make the choice)
A’. (9:24-29) Israel’s believing remnant
Main Idea: Simple logic cannot comprehend the depths of the soul – and our complex but sinful human heart. Nor can it fathom the sovereign plans of God.
I. Paul Felt Anguished, Like MOSES after the Golden Calf Episode (1-3).
Exodus 32:31-35, So Moses returned to the Lord and said, “Alas, this people has sinned a great sin. They have made for themselves gods of gold. But now, if you will forgive their sin—but if not, please blot me out of your book that you have written.” But the Lord said to Moses, “Whoever has sinned against me, I will blot out of my book. But now go, lead the people to the place about which I have spoken to you; behold, my angel shall go before you. Nevertheless, in the day when I visit, I will visit their sin upon them.”
Then the Lord sent a plague on the people, because they made the calf, the one that Aaron made.
A. The Jewish people had rejected the LORD in both situations.
1. In Moses case, but worshipping another god.
2. In Paul’s experience, by rejecting the Messiah sent by the Father.
3. Simple logic, from our perspective, would say that Adam and Eve should have never listened to the serpent, that Israel, seeing God’s miracles in the Exodus, you would think the Hebrews would believe and at least attempt to obey the Lord, and that the Jewish population in the first century would flock to Jesus completely.
4. Environment and genetics are not the whole picture.
5. At a point in life – early or late – most of us come to realize that logic is merely a contributing factor to human decisions, especially personal ones (more emotion).
B. Both Paul and Moses would have freely chosen to be CUT OFF for the sake of their people, the Jewish people.
• Some of you feel that way right now about a dear family member...
C. In both instances, God JUDGED the unbelieving in their midst.
• We are not sure what Moses meant by God’s book in this text...
II. Paul’s Lesson for Us: Spiritual ADVANTAGES Do Not Guarantee Faithfulness nor Salvation (4-5).
A. The Jewish people had it ALL.
We share some Israel’s blessings, but we do not replace Israel; God will keep His promises to that nation. We are not spiritual Jews, but we are included in the Commonwealth of Israel, much like a British colony.
1. They were ADOPTED in a sense as God’s children.
2. The SHEKINAH (God’s glory) was with them.
3. The COVENANTS were theirs, including the New Covenant (Jeremiah 31:31ff).
4. The TORAH was directed to them.
5. They along WORSHIPPED God in accord with His will.
6. The PROMISES of Messiah and Millennium.
7. The PATRIARCHS
8. The MESSIAH is from their race, and He has also proven to be God.
B. Having all the advantages is not the same as a commitment of PERSONAL faith.
1. We may mistake COMPLIANCE with conviction.
2. We may confuse a MECHANICAL faith with a heart-felt faith.
3. We may confuse KNOWLEDGE and absorbing spiritual information with faith.
C. Sometimes the DISADVANTAGED receive the greatest blessings, sometimes not.
1. In my observation, those reared in consistent Christian homes are more likely to know and follow the Lord than those who are raised otherwise.
2. Nonetheless, God calls many to Himself from the least-likely environments.
3.
D. Rather than become embittered about how God does things, devout believers learn to BLESS His Name, even though they do not understand or like it all.
CONCLUSION
1. You hear stories of how advantaged people ruined their lives on drugs, suicide, gambling, or some other addiction or abuse – probably some people you know.
2. And you also hear stories of people far away from God who found forgiveness and new live in Jesus.
3. These patterns are nothing new. Who can fully understand how God’s Sovereign hand and the choices of men work together? But we have made a beginning.
