Blessed Hope Bible-Presbyterian Church

Adult Sunday School

22 March 2020
Romans 9:17-20 (KJV)

Romans 9:17-20 (KJV) 17 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. 18 Therefore hath he mercy on whom he
will have mercy, and whom he will he hardeneth. 19 Thou wilt say then unto me, Why
doth he yet find fault? For who hath resisted his will? 20 Nay but, O man, who art
thou that repliest against God? Shall the thing formed say to him that formed it, Why
hast thou made me thus?

God’s Power Declared Throughout All the Earth

(1) God’s Power Declared Throughout All the Earth

17 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.

Apostle Paul cited Exodus 9:16, how Pharaoh was raised by God as Egypt’s supreme
ruler to declare His glory during the time of Israel’s Exodus. Pharaoh was subdued by
the Almighty power of God, demonstrating that the LORD (Jehovah); He is God, the
Creator of all things. God shows all the earth that He is greater than great Pharaoh,
the self-proclaimed representative of Ra, the sun god.

This was the Lord’s conversation with Moses – Exodus 9:13-21 (KJV) 13 And the LORD
said unto Moses, Rise up early in the morning, and stand before Pharaoh, and say unto
him, Thus saith the LORD God of the Hebrews, Let my people go, that they may serve
me. 14 For I will at this time send all my plagues upon thine heart, and upon thy
servants, and upon thy people; that thou mayest know that there is none like me in all
the earth. 15 For now I will stretch out my hand, that I may smite thee and thy people
with pestilence; and thou shalt be cut off from the earth. 16 And in very deed for this
cause have I raised thee up, for to shew in thee my power; and that my name may
be declared throughout all the earth. 17 As yet exaltest thou thyself against my
people, that thou wilt not let them go? 18 Behold, to morrow about this time I will
cause it to rain a very grievous hail, such as hath not been in Egypt since the foundation
thereof even until now. 19 Send therefore now, and gather thy cattle, and all that thou
hast in the field; for upon every man and beast which shall be found in the field, and
shall not be brought home, the hail shall come down upon them, and they shall
die. 20 He that feared the word of the LORD among the servants of Pharaoh made his

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servants and his cattle flee into the houses: 21 And he that regarded not the word of
the LORD left his servants and his cattle in the field.

We observe God’s hand in raising Pharaoh against His people as a vessel of His
judgement. Indeed, the world looked in awe at the humbling of Pharaoh and all Egypt.
Thank God that He revealed Himself to us through the written word of Scripture. We
behold His sovereign power over the international affairs of nations for His glory. It
helps us to see in perspective God’s hand in geopolitical affairs of today. It is His
sovereign will to raise up one and put down another for His own glory and purpose.
What a God we serve! Surely, He works out all things for our good. We can rest in His
care.

(2) Is God Unjust?

17 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. 18 Therefore hath he mercy on whom he will have mercy,
and whom he will he hardeneth.

The man Pharaoh who resisted God’s command to release His people from slavery did
so because God has willed it. It is God who sovereignly chooses Pharaoh to be His
instrument of wrath against His people and also the recipient of His wrath. It is God
who causes the heart of Pharaoh to be made stubborn that he might disobey His
command to release His people. And yet we know that it was Pharaoh who freely
chooses to harden his heart to resist the will of God. We marvel at the truth of God’s
sovereignty and man’s responsibility at work simultaneously.

Should God be charged with being unjust in choosing Pharaoh to be the recipient of
His wrath? God forbid. God cannot be charged with being unjust! He is a just God as
the psalmist declared to be God’s unchanging character.

Psalm 119:137 (KJV) 137 Righteous art thou, O LORD, and upright are thy judgments.

God is infinite, eternal and unchangeable in His justice. We must let God be God. He
is God, and we are not! We must not have the audacity to question God but to submit
to His just authority! God is not unfair. He sovereignly wills, it was His prerogative as
God, the power to decide lies with Him.

And so, when a person did not have the opportunity to hear the gospel and dies in his
sin, can he be saved? The biblical answer is no. He is not saved because he did not
come to God through Christ. Is God not unfair to pass this innocent man? No, God is
not unfair! Man after the fall is already under condemnation, he is not innocent but a

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rebel against God. It is not unjust for God to punish him even though he might not
have the opportunity to hear the gospel.

It fact, it is for this reason, we are charged to bring the gospel to the uttermost part of
the earth that none should perish! By human instruments, God will fulfil His will to
show mercy to whom He will show mercy. May we rest in the sovereignty of God to
choose whom He will save and do our duty to give the gospel that whosoever will,
might believe!

(3) Why Question God?

19 Thou wilt say then unto me, Why doth he yet find fault? For who hath resisted his
will? 20 Nay but, O man, who art thou that repliest against God? Shall the thing
formed say to him that formed it, Why hast thou made me thus?

The Apostle Paul is seeking to quell the spirit of unrest, that discontented spirit to
question the justice of God. Out of the imperfections of sin and unbelief came the
fulfilling of God’s promises to bring forth the Saviour Jesus Christ from the loins of
Israel. Although the Jews have largely rejected their Messiah, God’s promise of
salvation through the seed of the woman (Gen. 3:15) is fulfilled in the fullness of time.
God allows within the Jewish people those who would reject their Christ, perishing in
sin and unbelief.

The Apostle Paul is saying to the critics questioning God referred to as “thou” in verse
19 and the fallen “man” in verse 20. He informs them that God knows who the rebels
are and how they turn out as those who rejected His grace. Nevertheless, they were
instruments that fulfilled His purpose. He is the Maker. Does He not have a sovereign
choice by virtue of being the Maker?

This story of rebels amongst God’s people in each generation is not new. When Israel
came out of the wilderness, a whole generation after the age of twenty perished in
the wilderness because of their unbelief. They refused God’s promises to enter the
Promised Land. When Jesus came into human history born to the virgin Mary, He was
rejected by His generation who chose to crucify Him. Jesus witnessed to them in
Person, there is no greater privilege than those who lived in Christ’s generation, yet
they spurned His grace. It is sad.

It is humbling to know that there are those whom we will witness to who would
ultimately reject God’s way of salvation through His Son Jesus Christ. We need to be
at peace to submit to the truth that salvation is of the Lord. Nevertheless, we are to
do our part in sharing the gospel. May God bless this new day for His glory. Amen.

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We have to admit why did do what He did, we may never know. But there was guiding
thoughts that can help us to understand the mind of God.