The Choices God Makes

Alba 3-13-2022

THE CHOICES GOD MAKES

Romans 9:6-33

It's not fair! That is a cry from many people about situations that don’t go their way! Today in our society there are many who have taken this to a new level!

Someone will say, “It’s not fair that little Johnny’s team has to lose, so let’s just not keep score!” Or, “It’s not fair that little Susie didn’t make all stars, so let’s give them all a trophy! Or, “It’s not FAIR that Joanie got the promotion instead of me; I have been here much longer than she has been.”

But when we examine those statements, we can easily see why these things happen. Little Johnny’s team lost because the other team was better, sports is about competition and doing our best. And sometimes others do it better! Choices must be made.

Little Susie didn’t make all stars because Susie was not good enough, others were better. Why would we think it is a good thing to reward those who do not achieve the same as those who do achieve? Choices must be made.

Joanie got that promotion because she was willing to do what was needed, or she has a skill set that was more valuable. A job is about the needs of the company providing the job. And choices must be made.

And let’s face it, some people are just better than we are at some things. There will always be someone better! It is not a question of fairness, but choices must be made.

Scripture uses the term “the elect” to describe Christians. That word (eklogç) has the meaning of picking or choosing. Christians are the chosen ones of God. He made the choice, and He set the standard for the choice.

Romans 9:6-33 explains that we serve a sovereign God who has the right to make the rules and set the standard. God is the boss. His choices are His choices, and none of them are based on human intervention. God’s decisions are his own!

Verse 21 of Romans chapter nine asks, “Does not the potter have power over the clay?” God is the potter and we are the clay. God is absolutely sovereign; He can do whatever He pleases. He answers to no one for what He does, and He has no obligation to explain to anyone the reasons for His actions.

As the potter, God can mold the clay in any way He desires. He can make one pot for a noble use and another for a menial use. In Psalm 115:3 it says, “God does what He pleases!”

If someone disagrees with God's choices, Romans 9:14 asks, “What shall we say then? Is there unrighteousness with God? And answers, Certainly not!” This is the apostle Paul’s way to declare that any thought of God seeming to be unfair in His choices is absurd.

Like it or not, the fact remains: God is the potter and we are the clay. He has a right to do as He pleases, and in His wisdom, He will always do what is best.

These verses in Romans 9:6-33 tell of the choices God has made. Choices that affect us, and also bless us.

First we see that out of all people on earth...

1. He Chooses the Children of Promise as His Own

Romans 9:8 says, “those who are the children of the flesh, these are not the children of God; but the children of the promise are counted as the seed.”

A person does not enter God’s family by physical birth. You do not enter His Kingdom according to the flesh, or natural advantages. God does not “choose” people for salvation according to race, religion, ancestry, or ability, but according to His Will and Calling.

Verse eight makes it clear that not all of those who are children of Abraham (his decendents) are the true spiritual children of God. God has made the choice that His people are the people of promise.

Verse seven says,“In Isaac your seed shall be called.” Issac was a child of promise; the promise given to Abraham and Sarah that they would have a child, and through that child all nations of the earth would be blessed. That was God's choice.

But the story continues. Issac and Rebecca have twin sons, Jacob and Esau. Once again, God made a choice between them. Had the usual rules of inheritance applied, it would have been the God of “Abraham, Isaac, and Esau”.

The firstborn was supposed to be the heir. That’s how it had been for a long time. And yet God allowed Isaac to be the heir of the promise from Abraham, and Jacob to be the heir of the promise from Isaac. That was God's choice.

Esau was the one with the birthright, and was in the line of the spiritual patriarchs of the family. But Esau despised the birthright. He saw it as worthless. So he sold it for a bowl of beans, or for whatever was in that porridge.