God Chose To Make A People
Do you have a “no-skips” album? That rare record where every track hits just right, and you never feel the urge to hit “next”? For me, it’s a short list: Five Days in July, August and Everything After, Achtung Baby, and maybe Dark Side of the Moon—though “Any Colour You Like” sometimes tests me. Even with favorites, there are songs we skip.
We often treat Scripture the same way. We gravitate to the “greatest hits” like Romans 8: “If God is for us, who can be against us?” After such a mountaintop, it’s tempting to skip the next chapters—Romans 9, 10, and 11. But like a truly great album, the Bible is meant to be experienced in full. These “deep cuts” reveal essential truths about God’s heart, especially through Paul’s reflections on Israel and God’s unfolding plan for salvation.
A Heart of Anguish
Romans 9 opens not with cold doctrine but with deep emotion. Paul writes, “I have great sorrow and unceasing anguish in my heart” (v.2). He’s grieving that his people—entrusted with covenants, law, worship, and the very lineage of the Messiah—have not embraced Jesus. This isn’t theological detachment; it’s personal and pastoral.
Have you ever felt that kind of sorrow for someone far from God? A loved one resisting the gospel? That’s the heart Paul brings—so moved he says he’d give up his own salvation if it meant his people could know Christ. It’s a raw reminder that behind Paul’s deep theology is a deep love for people.
God’s Sovereign Choice
If Israel was chosen, why the rejection of Jesus? Has God’s promise failed? Paul says, “Not at all!” (v.6). Not all physical descendants are part of the covenant—God’s promises are rooted in calling, not lineage. He recalls God choosing Jacob over Esau before they were born—not because of merit, but to show that election is based on divine purpose.
“Jacob I loved, but Esau I hated” (v.13) isn’t emotional; it’s covenantal. God isn’t acting arbitrarily but according to His sovereign mercy. His choosing isn’t about favoritism but fulfilling His plan of redemption.
The Potter and the Clay
Does this make God unjust? Again, Paul replies, “Not at all!” (v.14). God’s mercy is not earned. Quoting Exodus, Paul reminds us that God says, “I will have mercy on whom I have mercy.” The image of the Potter and clay (vv.20–21) reminds us we’re not in control—God is shaping us for His purposes. And even when the shaping feels like breaking, His hands never leave the clay.
For the Gentile readers, this imagery would clarify how they fit into the story. God’s mercy is expansive. He’s making a people for Himself—not just from Israel but from all nations.
A Story Still Unfolding
Romans 9 isn’t the end. Paul continues in chapters 10 and 11 to affirm that God has not abandoned Israel. Yes, there’s a current hardening, but it’s not permanent. “All Israel will be saved,” he writes (11:26), and “God’s gifts and His call are irrevocable” (11:29).
The takeaway? The story of redemption is still unfolding. We Gentiles are grafted in by grace, and our posture should be one of humility and gratitude. God’s not done.
A Call to Reflection
So, how do we respond?
Where are you tempted to “skip” over hard truths in your faith?
Who are you praying for with tears, like Paul for his people?
Can you trust the Potter, even in painful shaping?
These chapters challenge us to embrace all of God’s Word—not just the feel-good parts. And in doing so, we learn to trust His mercy, sovereignty, and faithfulness more fully. The Potter is still at work—making something beautiful for His glory.