Bible, God's Will, Resistance, Romans, Scripture, Yielding

FUTILE RESISTANCE

ROMANS 9:19

“You will say to me then, ‘Why does He still find fault? For who has resisted His will?’”

Throughout the centuries, people have tried to thwart God’s will, but none have been successful. God’s will is well…God’s will. In Daniel 4:35 we read, “‘All the inhabitants of the earth are of no account, But He does according to His will among the army of heaven And among the inhabitants of earth; And no one can fend off His hand Or say to Him, “What have You done?”’” Nothing has changed. God’s will triumphs always.

Paul uses a Greek word for “resisted” that “is commonly used to denote the resistance offered by soldiers or armed men.” (Albert Barnes). We see this same word in Ephesians 6:13 where we are told, “Therefore, take up the full armor of God, so that you will be able to resist on the evil day, and having done everything, to stand firm.” That kind of resisting is a good thing. We should resist evil, but not God. That will get us nowhere.

APPLICATION

Paul is presupposing some arguments against his statements about God’s sovereign will. “Why does He still find fault? For who has resisted His will?” Those questions are still being asked today. May I suggest a rather simplistic answer? God’s ultimate, perfect will is based on the fact that He knows how all mankind will react. He doesn’t force our actions, but He knows them even before we do. Man’s free will has been evidenced since the Garden of Eden.

Now, I know you may not agree with my simple answer. That’s okay. You can be wrong. Just kidding. Seriously, just kidding. We can only base our beliefs on what His Word tells us over and over and over. I love the Expositor’s Greek Testament comment on this passage. “To this objection there is really no answer, and it ought to be frankly admitted that the Apostle does not answer it. The attempt to understand the relation between the human will and the Divine seems to lead of necessity to an antinomy which thought has not as yet succeeded in transcending.”

Don’t try to figure this out. There are some things you must believe on faith. I believe this in one of them. Knowing God’s will is simple. All through Scripture we see where He tells us straight out what it is. (Check out John 6:39-40; 1 Thessalonians 4:3; 1 Peter 2:15.) It’s not complicated, but you must yield to it. Do not resist Him. You will not win. But He wants you to win by trusting Him. You can take that to the bank!

Lord, I do not have to understand all the aspects of Your will for my life. I simply have to trust it each day. Thank You, Father.

If the Lord should lead you to support our ministry, check out our ministry page at Trans World Radio (www.twr.org/carl-willis). 

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Bible, Confession, Conviction, Heart, Holy Spirit, Romans, Scripture

DON’T GET HARDHEARTED

ROMANS 9:18

“So then He has mercy on whom He desires, and He hardens whom He desires.”

I have known some hardhearted people in my lifetime. No amount of love which was directed towards them changed their minds. They seemed to be mad at the world and everyone in it. I myself have had some hardhearted moments in my life when I felt someone had turned against me. But the Holy Spirit would not let me stay there. Why? Because He is love and will not allow a follower of Christ to remain there.

In verse 18 today Paul issues a warning. If we remain in a state of rebellion towards God and the things of God, He will allow that hardness to remain. God will not chisel His way into your life. The Topical Lexicon says this about the word sklérunó, which is the word Paul uses here. It “shows that hardening can be God’s righteous response to persistent rebellion, paralleling Pharaoh in Exodus. Divine hardening never violates human responsibility; rather, it ratifies the sinner’s chosen defiance.”

APPLICATION

If there was ever a need to apply a verse to your life, this is it. In Hebrews 3:15 we read, “while it is said, ‘TODAY IF YOU HEAR HIS VOICE, DO NOT HARDEN YOUR HEARTS, AS WHEN THEY PROVOKED ME.’” This is a quote from Psalm 95:7-8 when David referred to the hardening of the hearts of the Israelites at Meribah and Massah when they quarreled with Moses about not having enough water. They had seen God’s miraculous demonstrations of His power, yet they were concerned about not having enough water.

Before you point your finger at them, however, what have you been quarreling with God about. Can I be honest? I have been quarreling with God about something in my family for the past few years. No amount of praying seems to move the hand of God. So, I have quarreled with God about it. Why doesn’t He move in this situation? Why won’t He let me fix it? We can all get there at times.

Listen friends, we have to trust the hand of God in all things. We cannot allow the enemy to corrupt our minds and lead our hearts into a hardening. That goes in direct conflict with God’s will for our lives. I have repented of my hardness. Have you? I give it over to the Lord daily. I want my heart to remain soft and moldable to His touch. How about you?

Lord, forgive me of being hardhearted. I confess that as sin and ask You to soften my heart to be tender to Your Spirit’s work in my life.

If the Lord should lead you to support our ministry, check out our ministry page at Trans World Radio (www.twr.org/carl-willis). 

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Love, Bible, Scripture, Power, Hard, Demonstration, Romans

GOD IS THE ULTIMATE POWER

ROMANS 9:17

“For the Scripture says to Pharaoh, ‘FOR THIS VERY REASON I RAISED YOU UP, IN ORDER TO DEMONSTRATE MY POWER IN YOU, AND THAT MY NAME MIGHT BE PROCLAIMED THROUGHOUT THE EARTH.’”

In today’s verse we have an illustration of God’s supreme power over even the vilest of people (more on that later). I believe the sovereignty of God is the most important attribute of God. Everything else in life hinges on that belief. If I live my life thinking there is some other force that can determine my journey, I am greatly disillusioned. God will use anything or anyone He chooses to accomplish His will. Hey, He used a talking donkey, didn’t He?

Pharaoh was an evil man. God didn’t make him evil, but He used Pharaoh in such a way that his own evil nature was exposed. Albert Barnes says this. “neither Pharaoh nor any sinner can justly blame God for placing them in circumstances where they shall develope their own character, and show what they are. It is not the fault of God, but their own fault. The sinner is not compelled to sin; nor is God under obligation to save him contrary to the prevalent desires and wishes of the sinner himself.” God simply exposes our sins!

APPLICATION

The term “raised you up” in today’s verse does not mean that God decided to create an evil ruler in Egypt to suppress His people. It means God sustained Pharaoh in order to expose his true evil nature. When we read in the Exodus passage about Pharaoh, we are often confused by the term that God hardened his heart. Ellicott’s Commentary explains this well. “The verb is intransitive, and ‘Pharaoh’s heart’ is its nominative case. Translate, ‘Pharaoh’s heart hardened itself.’” There you have it.

God, being God, knew how Pharaoh was going to respond to the request to let His people go. He knew Pharaoh would harden his heart against Him. Even after he cried out in pain due to the loss of his son, Pharaoh was still hardened against God. You would have thought he would soften. But no! Not Pharaoh. After all, he was worshipped as a god by the people of Egypt. Why would he bow his knee to God?

But God did use Pharaoh to demonstrate His power to the world. Only God could have done what He did. Now listen, only God could do what He did in our hearts. He softened them. He tenderized them with His Spirit. The moment we responded to the wooing of the Spirit, the draw of God, He made our hearts cling to His. What a powerful demonstration of God. We saw earlier in Romans 5:8, “But God demonstrated His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” Now that’s power!

Thank You, Lord, for demonstrating Your love for me. What a powerful display of Your mighty acts.

If the Lord should lead you to support our ministry, check out our ministry page at Trans World Radio (www.twr.org/carl-willis). 

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Bible, Desires, Grace, Mercy, Romans, Running, Scripture, Works

GOD’S MERCY

ROMANS 9:16

“So then, it does not depend on the person who wants it nor the one who runs, but on God who has mercy.”

In times past, when I have been considered for a new job, I became a little anxious about the process. After praying and seeking the Lord’s will about the new opportunity, I would begin to prepare for the new role and consider how I would carry it out if I received the offer. Some of those jobs I really wanted. I did everything in my power (resume, interviews, etc.) to win the job, but the offer of the job was not up to me. It was up to the one(s) who did the hiring.

Paul must have witnessed a lot of foot races in Corinth (where he wrote this letter). He uses the analogy of running throughout his letters. Those runners all ran because they wanted to achieve the prize. They ran in such a way to win it. But that is where the analogy breaks down in today’s verse because that runner could, in his own power, win that race. We cannot, in our power, achieve salvation. Paul says that depends “on God who has mercy.” God is the one who gives us the promise of eternal life. 1 John 5:11 tells us this. “And the testimony is this, that God has given us eternal life, and this life is in His Son.”

APPLICATION

The Expositor’s Greek Testament says, “Conclusion from this word of God. It (namely, the experience of God’s mercy) does not depend on man’s resolve or effort but on God’s merciful act.”  Every commentator I looked agreed that God’s mercy is not dependent on anything we do. We have all seen people cry out for mercy who had no desire to change. They just wanted release from some pain or some trouble they were in. My late brother-in-law used to say, “If you want relief, take a Rolaids.” Lol. But to the one who truly desires salvation, God is eager to provide that mercy.

Remember, mercy is not getting something you deserve. What do we all deserve? Hell! God’s provision of mercy on us relieves us of that. Why? Because of the grace poured out on the cross for us. Grace is getting something you don’t deserve. We don’t deserve the grace He gives, and we can’t earn the mercy He shows. Wow! What a Savior!

Now, let me ask you something. Is there someone to whom you need to show mercy? In the story Jesus told about the man who owed ten thousand talents, He makes a statement toward the end that I believe applies here. “‘Should you not also have had mercy on your fellow slave, in the same way that I had mercy on you?’” Does that apply to you today? It sure hits home with me. Let us show mercy to others in the same way God shows it to us.

Lord, I am so thankful for Your mercy and grace in my life. I know what I deserve, and You have delivered me from it.

If the Lord should lead you to support our ministry, check out our ministry page at Trans World Radio (www.twr.org/carl-willis). 

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Bible, Compassion, Favor, Love, Mercy, Romans, Scripture

MERCY AND COMPASSION

ROMANS 9:15

“For He says to Moses, ‘I WILL HAVE MERCY ON WHOMEVER I HAVE MERCY, AND I WILL SHOW COMPASSION TO WHOMEVER I SHOW COMPASSION.’”

I don’t know about you, but I have certainly been the recipient of mercy and compassion at times. People who did not have to give it showed those to me. Usually, I was in a place of desperation or turmoil, and they showed up to help me. It was undeserved but certainly appreciated. Those of you have received likewise can relate.

In today’s verse Paul quotes again from the Old Testament, this time from Genesis 33:19. To get the full picture of what is happening here, you need to go read Deuteronomy 33:12-23. It’s a beautiful exchange between God and Moses. Verse 19 follows right after Moses asks to see God’s glory. This is what God said to him before He told Moses He would cover him with His hand while Moses stood in the cleft of the rock as He passed by. “And He said, ‘I Myself will make all My goodness pass before you, and will proclaim the name of the LORD before you; and I will be gracious to whom I will be gracious, and will show compassion to whom I will show compassion.’” Let’s look at the meaning of these words, “mercy” and “compassion” in today’s verse by Paul.

APPLICATION

I am going back to the Deuteronomy passage to see the original words used there. Hanan is the word translated as “mercy” by Paul. It “expresses the free, heartfelt inclination of a superior to show favor, compassion, or generosity to one in need. The emphasis lies on unearned mercy, not contractual obligation. Whenever the verb appears, the recipient stands in dependence; the giver, most frequently the Lord, acts out of His own character.” (Topical Lexicon)

And the word translated as “compassion” is an absolute beautiful word. It is the Hebrew word racham. Once again, I am quoting from the Topical Lexicon. “Racham expresses deep, tender affection that issues in concrete acts of kindness.  The term denotes far more than momentary pity; it conveys steadfast, covenant-grounded mercy that moves the heart to intervene for the helpless.” This word is “linked to rechem, ‘womb’, the verb paints a picture of the protective, nurturing compassion a mother has for an infant.”

Wow! Do you see that? It’s as if God is bending down (a superior to an inferior) and scooping us up in His arms. When I bend down to pick up my grandchildren I exhibit those traits as well. When I lend a hand to someone in need, I do the same. To whom can you show hanan and racham today? It is not beneath you to do so. God will use you to show His own hanan and racham to others. Let Him use you.

Lord, I do not deserve Your mercy and compassion, but it is certainly appreciated.

If the Lord should lead you to support our ministry, check out our ministry page at Trans World Radio (www.twr.org/carl-willis). 

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Bible, Called, Calling, Choices, Justice, Romans, Scripture

GOD’S JUSTICE IS JUST

ROMANS 9:14

“What shall we say then? There is no injustice with God, is there? Far from it!”

In Psalm 51:4b, we read the words of David when he is confronted by Nathan in regard to his sin of adultery and murder. He writes, “so you are right in your verdict and justified when you judge.” David knew that whatever God did to him, it was justified. God’s decision is always right and just. God can be nothing less than just in all His ways. That’s why He is God and we aren’t.

Paul begins this discussion of God’s position in today’s verse, but it will carry over for the next several verses. I love this commentator’s words on this. “Whatever God does, must be just. Wherein the holy, happy people of God differ from others, God’s grace alone makes them differ. In this preventing, effectual, distinguishing grace, he acts as a benefactor, whose grace is his own. None have deserved it; so that those who are saved, must thank God only; and those who perish, must blame themselves only,” (Matthew Henry’s Concise Commentary)

APPLICATION

Throughout Scripture we have seen God making choices. He chose Abraham rather than anyone else to make covenant with. He chose Moses rather than Aaron to be the one to lead the people out of Egypt. And while we are on that story, He chose Moses over Pharoah. God chooses certain people for certain tasks to accomplish His will. In these examples it is clear that neither Abraham nor Moses did anything to be chosen by God. But they both yielded when called.

Let’s be clear – the Gospel is for everyone. Paul, of all people, could attest to that. His ministry was to the Gentile world, a people detested by the Jews. But God has the right because He is God to choose certain people for a higher calling or for a special purpose. I have been specifically called to invest in the lives of men. It is not something I pursued on my own. I was happy and quite content working with children for over forty years. But here I am doing God’s bidding, seeking men to pour myself into.

What has God called you out to do? Carl, I don’t think God has called me to do anything. Wrong! If you are a child of God, He has called you for a purpose. Don’t try to do what someone else does and don’t be envious of someone else’s calling. Ask the Lord to reveal to you His calling on your life. God is a just God and has a just calling for you. He will not ask you to do anything which He will not equip you for. Trust Him in your calling and pour yourself into it. You will be about your Master’s business.

Father, I will not question Your decisions and complain about what You have called me to do. I commit to serve You faithfully.

If the Lord should lead you to support our ministry, check out our ministry page at Trans World Radio (www.twr.org/carl-willis). 

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Bible, Chosen, Hate, Hatred, Love, Relationships, Romans, Scripture

HATE IS A STRONG WORD

ROMANS 9:13

“Just as it is written: ‘JACOB I HAVE LOVED, BUT ESAU I HAVE HATED.’”

We’ve all said it. “I hate…” The comment could be directed at something or someone. I’ve said it many times. For instance, I hate brussel sprouts, lol. But I have also said that I hate certain people. Now, let me say quickly that happened mostly when I was a child. But I have to be honest and say it has slipped out of my mouth as an adult also. I have confessed that as sin and asked for forgiveness. So, when you see the word “hate” in Scripture, it can give you pause.

Paul quotes in today’s verse from Malachi 1:2-3. “2 ‘I have loved you,’ says the LORD. But you say, ‘How have You loved us?’ ‘Was Esau not Jacob’s brother?’ declares the LORD. ‘Yet I have loved Jacob; 3 but I have hated Esau, and I have made his mountains a desolation and given his inheritance to the jackals of the wilderness.’” Don’t think for a second, though, that God actually hated Esau. This was a common Hebraic expression of “lesser love.” You can find other examples of things God hates, but Esau wasn’t one of them.

APPLICATION

One good example of this expression is found in Proverbs 13:24. “He who withholds his rod hates his son, but he who loves him disciplines him diligently.” Withholding the rod and spoiling the child can look like hatred, in that it does not teach the child right from wrong. I’ve seen parents do that with disastrous consequences. They really loved their child but failed to train them properly.

Even Jesus used this comparison in Luke 14:26. “‘If anyone comes to Me and does not hate his own father, mother, wife, children, brothers, sisters, yes, and even his own life, he cannot be My disciple.’” Jesus wasn’t implying we should hate our family in order to follow Him. That would be the furthest thing from Jesus’ mind. But in comparison to the love we should have for Him, our love for our family would look like hate.

Barnes explains this “hatred” this way. “It was common among the Hebrews to use the terms ‘love’ and ‘hatred’ in this comparative sense, where the former implied strong positive attachment, and the latter, not positive hatred, but merely a less love, or the withholding of the expressions of affection.” Do you love Jesus so much that all other love relationships you have appear as hatred? Hmmm. Let’s all examine ourselves in this manner.

Father, help me love You so deeply that all other relationships look like hatred. Nothing compares to You.

If the Lord should lead you to support our ministry, check out our ministry page at Trans World Radio (www.twr.org/carl-willis). 

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Answers, Bible, Calling, Mothers, Prayer, Romans, Scripture

GOD SPEAKS TO MOTHERS

ROMANS 9:12

“it was said to her, ‘THE OLDER WILL SERVE THE YOUNGER.’”

I can’t begin to tell you the stories I have heard from mothers about God speaking to them. I am sure you have heard them as well. A mother hears the Lord tell her that her son will be a pastor one day. Another hears Him telling her to pray for her child’s safety, not knowing that they were in danger that very moment. You may say they just got an impression from their own thoughts. But to these moms, that voice was clear as crystal.

It was in Genesis 25:23 that we read about God speaking to Rebecca. “And the LORD said to her, ‘Two nations are in your womb; And two peoples will be separated from your body; And one people will be stronger than the other; And the older will serve the younger.’” Why do you think she took him up under her wing so tightly? She secured the blessing from his father, Isaac, over his brother. She had him go away to secure a bride. She knew God’s hand was on him and felt it was her calling to do all she could to aid him in that call.

APPLICATION

My mother said she knew I was going to be a preacher or a politician. When I was about 5 or 6, I would walk down the sidewalk in downtown Pelham, Georgia shaking hands and speaking to everyone I saw. I am so glad it wasn’t the latter (lol). I don’t know if God told her that or not. She never told me she had heard from God. I know she prayed for me, especially during my rebellious years as a teen. God hears mothers’ prayers and moves the hearts of children everywhere.

Now, God didn’t ignore Esau. Listen to what Hebrews 11:20 says about that. “By faith Isaac blessed Jacob and Esau concerning the future.” God made Esau a mighty nation which became the Edomites. Unfortunately, that nation became an enemy of Israel in later years. I am sure Rebecca loved Esau as much as Jacob, but she could not ignore the calling God had placed on Jacob’s life.

Do you have a child or grandchildren for whom you pray? Have you asked God to reveal to you His calling on their lives? I have to admit that I have not done that. I pray for my children and grandchildren every day, sometimes more than once a day. But I have never asked God to show me His plans for them. I am going to start doing that today? Will you join me?

Father, I place my children and grandchildren into Your mighty hands. Show me how You want to use them for Your kingdom’s work.

If the Lord should lead you to support our ministry, check out our ministry page at Trans World Radio (www.twr.org/carl-willis). 

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Bible, Called, Calling, Chosen, Romans, Scripture

NOT BECAUSE OF WORKS

ROMANS 9:11

“for though the twins were not yet born and had not done anything good or bad, so that God’s purpose according to His choice would stand, not because of works but because of Him who calls,”

Working hard for something can be a good thing. For instance, getting back into good physical condition takes hard work. You need to exercise and work your muscles. You need to perhaps cut back on certain foods and add other foods into your diet. Those muscles will respond to your hard work, but when you stop your new habit of working out, they will begin to atrophy once again. In other words, you have to keep working.

Aren’t you glad you don’t have to work your way into God’s family? And once you’re in, you don’t have to keep working to prevent being kicked out. Praise the Lord. Paul speaks to that in today’s verse. Jacob was chosen instead of Esau before they were even born. God had a purpose to achieve through Jacob. The “heel grabber” (Genesis 25:26) was himself grabbed by God. He was called by God.

APPLICATION

We find a similar thought about God’s calling in Ephesians 1:5. I love how the New Living Translation writes this. “God decided in advance to adopt us into his own family by bringing us to himself through Jesus Christ. This is what he wanted to do, and it gave him great pleasure.” Calling you into His family “gave Him great pleasure.” You make God smile.

Yesterday my youngest grandson, Lucas, who is 20 months old, called me Papa for the first time. I was overjoyed. He was asked a question. Who do you want to go with right now, Nana or Papa? He just blurted out, “Papa!” My heart was overjoyed. I had the biggest grin on my face. I picture God doing the same every time I call His name.

I did nothing and can do nothing to earn God’s free gift of salvation which He has given to me. Going back to Ephesians again, Paul says in Ephesians 2:8-9, “8 For by grace you have been saved through faith; and this is not of yourselves, it is the gift of God; 9 not a result of works, so that no one may boast.” Just as Jacob had done nothing in his mother’s womb to deserve the calling of God on his life, we can do nothing ourselves. He has chosen us to follow Him. We do have to yield to this calling. God will not “force feed” us. But when we do say “Yes” to Him, He beams with pleasure. His child has come home. 

Father God, I am Yours. I love to call You “Abba” and know that brings You joy.

If the Lord should lead you to support our ministry, check out our ministry page at Trans World Radio (www.twr.org/carl-willis). 

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Bible, Choices, Chosen, Romans, Scripture, Strength, Stretching

NOT THE CUSTOM

ROMANS 9:10

“And not only that, but there was also Rebekah, when she had conceived twins by one man, our father Isaac;”

I have a ministry colleague whose younger daughter is getting married next month. He has one other daughter who is older. I joked with him recently if he was going to pull a “Laban” and give the older daughter to his future son-in-law and then his younger. He said his younger daughter would not be happy about that. Well, I guess not, lol. But it is normal for the older to marry before the younger, at least in most families.

Why do I bring up that illustration? Because Paul refers to another one of God’s contrary-to-custom decisions today. It would have been the custom for God to choose Esau over Jacob. After all, Esau was the first-born twin. But God chose the younger. Just as He turned from the Jewish nation, which He had chosen, to the Gentiles, Paul had been given the task of preaching the Gospel to these foreign nations. I am sure, at first, Saul (now named Paul) wondered about this decision. But he was faithful to God’s calling.

APPLICATION

How do we apply this verse to our lives? I think it’s clear. We cannot assume anything about God’s plans for our lives. We should never think God will choose the way of least resistance. In fact, it is usually just the opposite. He puts us on paths that will test and try us to build us into followers of Jesus who can withstand the attacks that will come upon us.

The Expositor’s Greek Testament says regarding God’s decision to choose Jacob over Esau, “this was done by God of His sovereign freedom:” Who can argue against God? Who knows the mind of God? In Job 40:8, God answers Job with a strong rebuke. “‘Will you really nullify My judgment? Will you condemn Me so that you may be justified?’” Of course, Job receives that rebuke and repents of his self-righteousness. He yields to the authority of God over his life, whatever that brings.

Will you allow God to do the noncustomary thing in your life? Will you allow Him to stretch you? Stretching is not comfortable to me, physically or spiritually. But I know it is good for me in both instances. Stretching physically protects my muscles and joints as I exercise. Stretching spiritually will also build up my “faith muscle” and give me the power to do whatever God has for me. But you have to trust God to lead you. Will you do that?

I have to be honest, Father. I don’t like the stretches You give me sometimes. But I am thankful for the end results.

If the Lord should lead you to support our ministry, check out our ministry page at Trans World Radio (www.twr.org/carl-willis). 

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