Is there injustice on the part of God? Of course not! 15 For he says to Moses: “I will show mercy to whom I will, I will take pity on whom I will.” 16 So it depends not upon a person’s will or exertion, but upon God, who shows mercy. 17 For the scripture says to Pharaoh, “This is why I have raised you up, to show my power through you that my name may be proclaimed throughout the earth.” 18 Consequently, he has mercy upon whom he wills, and he hardens whom he wills. 19 You will say to me then, “Why [then] does he still find fault? For who can oppose his will?” 20 But who indeed are you, a human being, to talk back to God? Will what is made say to its maker, “Why have you created me so?” 21 Or does not the potter have a right over the clay, to make out of the same lump one vessel for a noble purpose and another for an ignoble one? 22 What if God, wishing to show his wrath and make known his power, has endured with much patience the vessels of wrath made for destruction? 23 This was to make known the riches of his glory to the vessels of mercy, which he has prepared previously for glory, 24 namely, us whom he has called, not only from the Jews but also from the Gentiles.
God elected whom he willed to the Kingdom of Israel, the children of Abraham, who are not only those of his lineage but the children of the promise (Rom. 9: 6-8). With respect to Divine justice, God has a sovereign right to show mercy and pity to whomever he wills (Ex. 33:19). God can choose as his elect whom he likes and can harden the hearts of whom he wills as with Pharoah and Pontius Pilate (Ex. 9:16; Jn. 19:11). Can God be just if he punishes men for their unbelief and sinfulness if it is His will? God’s sovereignty as creator gives him the Divine prerogative to make each creature as He sees fit to suit His purpose. God’s creatures have no right to question the Creator’s work or plans. We are creatures created by God for his purpose and without God’s will, all human effort is futile. We should not reject divine intervention. Mankind does not have God’s perspective on the world, so he is in no position to question or judge God. However, God’s mercy tempers his sovereignty. God endures those heading for eternal damnation in order to make known the wealth of his patience, glory, and mercy through those he called from among both Jews and Gentiles.
Almighty God, you are a just judge showing mercy to each according to his/her merits. Grant, we pray, that your infinite grace may soften our hardened hearts to accept the teachings of your Son so that we may receive the reward of eternal life promised to your faithful servants. This we pray through Christ our Lord. Amen!
Chiu, José Enrique Aguilar, et al. The Paulist Biblical Commentary. Paulist Press, 2018.
Brown, Raymond Edward, et al. The New Jerome Biblical Commentary. Upper Saddle River, NJ, United States, Prentice Hall, 1990.
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