What shall we say then? Is there unrighteousness with God? God forbid. For he saith to Moses, I will have mercy on whom I will have mercy, and I will have compassion on whom I will have compassion. So then it is not of him that willeth, nor of him that runneth, but of God that sheweth mercy. For the scripture saith unto Pharaoh, Even for this same purpose have I raised thee up, that I might shew my power in thee, and that my name might be declared throughout all the earth. Therefore hath he mercy on whom he will have mercy, and whom he will he hardeneth. Romans 9:14-18

Now as we continue to talk about election and salvation, many of us define our preconceived ideas of who should be saved and who should not be saved. The problem is we are not God, when you start going down this trail, you are going way above your pay grade. As the Apostle Paul quotes Exodus when God told Moses “I will have mercy on whomever I will have mercy” God is going to save whoever he wants, this again is above our pay grade

This reminds me of the thief on the cross (Luke 23:39-43) While he was condemned to die on the cross, Jesus told him “Today you will be with me in paradise” (Luke 23:43) While he was condemned to die, God chose to save him. The thief on the cross will probably be one of the most controversial people in Heaven. Even today, many legalists argue you must do this and that to be saved, but the thief on the cross did none of these things, it was Christ alone that saved him. This is a great example of Gods sovereignty, going against our man-made religious formulas for salvation.

Pharaoh is another great example, that the Apostle Paul brings up, “For this very purpose, I raised you up that I may show my power in you” (Romans 9:17) The evil Pharaoh actually fulfilled Gods will and purpose, by God demonstrating His power and sovereignty with the plagues and exodus of Egypt. (Exodus 9:16) As scripture says “God hardened Pharaoh’s heart” (Exodus 7:3) Again the critics will say “This is not fair”, “why would God harden Pharaoh’s heart?” Because God is sovereign and we are not, going back to what He told Moses, God will have mercy on whomever he desires, and hardens whomever he wants to harden” (Romans 9:18)

Now on the flipside, did Pharoah have any opportunity to repent? Of course He did,  Moses went to Pharaoh ten times, and asked to “Let my people God” (Exodus 5:1, Exodus 8:1) Why would God grant him these opportunities if he couldn’t respond? But didn’t God already know how this was going to go? Of course because God is sovereign and Reigns over all the Heavens and The Earth!  (Psalm 113:4-6)

The problem is when we try to inject our will or ideas into Gods soverignty, you might say “I don’t understand how God has mercy on whomever he wants to have mercy, and Gods hardens whomever he wants to harden”  Yes because your a finite creature of the Creator, to think you can comprehend the mind of God is sure blasphemy in itself. God rules and reigns, submit to The Lord Jesus Christ today! Amen!