SPRINGCREEK FELLOWSHIP
Sunday, May 24, 2026

      • Acts 2:42CSB

  • Holy Is The Lord

      • Psalm 119:89–96CSB

  • You Changed My Name
  • King of My Heart
  • Amazing Grace
  • Within (Romans 9:6-33) there are FOUR MAIN QUESTIONS (the first one implied, and the remaining three direct) that will serve as an outline of our study:

    (v.6) - “Has the Word of God failed?”

    (v.14) - “…Is there injustice with God?”

    (v.19) - “…Why then does he still find fault?”

    (v.30) - “What should we say then?…”

    WE BEGAN LAST WEEK WITH…

    I. Question #1 (Implied): “Has the Word of God Failed?” - (9:6-13)

    The immediate IMPLIED ANSWER: NO! - (v.6a) - “It is NOT as though the word of God has failed…”

    II. Question #2: “…Is there injustice with God?” - (9:14-18)

    A. The QUESTION - (v.14b) - “…Is there injustice with God?”

    In other words, “Was God unjust in choosing Isaac over Ishmael, and Jacob over Esau?”
    “Does God have the RIGHT to choose one over the other?”
    BTW - This is the second time Paul asks this question:
    (Romans 3:5–6) - “But if our unrighteousness highlights God’s righteousness, what are we to say? I am using a human argument: Is God unrighteous to inflict wrath? Absolutely not! Otherwise, how will God judge the world?”

    B. The ANSWER - (v.14c) - “…Absolutely not!”

    μὴ γένοιτο - ‘not at all’

    C. The ARGUMENT - (vv.15-18)

    FIRST REASON: God’s Word to Moses! - (v.15)

    Romans 9:15 CSB
    15 For he tells Moses, I will show mercy to whom I will show mercy, and I will have compassion on whom I will have compassion.
    Exodus 33:19 CSB
    19 He said, “I will cause all my goodness to pass in front of you, and I will proclaim the name ‘the Lord’ before you. I will be gracious to whom I will be gracious, and I will have compassion on whom I will have compassion.”
    This was AFTER their deliverance from Egypt; the giving of the Law; their sin with the golden calf; and the consequential judgement inflicted on them!
    Exodus 32:8–10 CSB
    8 They have quickly turned from the way I commanded them; they have made for themselves an image of a calf. They have bowed down to it, sacrificed to it, and said, ‘Israel, these are your gods, who brought you up from the land of Egypt.’ ” 9 The Lord also said to Moses, “I have seen this people, and they are indeed a stiff-necked people. 10 Now leave me alone, so that my anger can burn against them and I can destroy them. Then I will make you into a great nation.”
    MOSES interceded for them and pleaded with the LORD:
    Exodus 32:13–14 CSB
    13 Remember your servants Abraham, Isaac, and Israel—you swore to them by yourself and declared, ‘I will make your offspring as numerous as the stars of the sky and will give your offspring all this land that I have promised, and they will inherit it forever.’ ” 14 So the Lord relented concerning the disaster he had said he would bring on his people.
    This did NOT mean they escaped JUDGMENT!
    Exodus 32:26–28 “And Moses stood at the camp’s entrance and said, “Whoever is for the Lord, come to me.” And all the Levites gathered around him. He told them, “This is what the Lord, the God of Israel, says, ‘Every man fasten his sword to his side; go back and forth through the camp from entrance to entrance, and each of you kill his brother, his friend, and his neighbor.’ ” The Levites did as Moses commanded, and about three thousand men fell dead that day among the people.”
    BTW - Moses’ pleading with God involved him being a pre-type of Jesus—willing to die in their place!
    Exodus 32:32 “Now if you would only forgive their sin. But if not, please erase me from the book you have written.””
    Exodus 32:34 “Now go, lead the people to the place I told you about; see, my angel will go before you. But on the day I settle accounts, I will hold them accountable for their sin.””
    THE POINT: When God caused His “….goodness to pass in front of you” and said, “…I will proclaim the name ‘the LORD’ before you. I will be gracious to whom I will be gracious, and I will have compassion on whom I will have compassion” (Ex 33:19), it was AFTER Israel had FAILED MISERABLY!
    How could Paul’s antagonist ask, “Is there injustice with God?” When JUSTICE would have resulted in God destroying Israel and starting over with Moses!
    Israel didn’t do anything to MERIT the grace or compassion from the Lord, and in fact, they absolutely DID NOT DESERVE IT!
    GOD WAS GRACIOUS and COMPASSIONATE because HE CHOSE TO BE!

    FIRST CONCLUSION: “So then…” - (v.16)

    Romans 9:16 CSB
    16 So then, it does not depend on human will or effort but on God who shows mercy.
    The Greek text is much SIMPLER (12 words): Lit. - “So then not the willing, nor the running, but the showing mercy of God.’

    “…not the willing”

    “…willing” from θέλοντος - Used 317 times - ‘to feel or have a desire for; want strongly’
    John 5:1–8 CSB
    1 After this, a Jewish festival took place, and Jesus went up to Jerusalem. 2 By the Sheep Gate in Jerusalem there is a pool, called Bethesda in Aramaic, which has five colonnades. 3 Within these lay a large number of the disabled—blind, lame, and paralyzed. 5 One man was there who had been disabled for thirty-eight years. 6 When Jesus saw him lying there and realized he had already been there a long time, he said to him, “Do you want to get well?” 7 “Sir,” the disabled man answered, “I have no one to put me into the pool when the water is stirred up, but while I’m coming, someone goes down ahead of me.” 8 “Get up,” Jesus told him, “pick up your mat and walk.”
    To the Jews who were persecuting Jesus because he healed this man, he said…
    John 5:40 CSB
    But you are not willing to come to me so that you may have life.
    The BEST EXAMPLE of the relationship between our willing and God’s willing is found in the story of the man with leprosy included in all three synoptic Gospels: (Matt 8:2-3; Mark 1:40ff; and Luke 5:12ff)!
    Matthew 8:2–3 CSB
    Right away a man with leprosy came up and knelt before him, saying, “Lord, if you are willing, you can make me clean.” Reaching out his hand, Jesus touched him, saying, “I am willing; be made clean.” Immediately his leprosy was cleansed.
    This man gets it! He understood whose “will” mattered when it came to being healed!
    No matter how much he wanted to be healed, he instinctively understood that unless Jesus was willing, no amount of DESIRE on his part would suffice!
    Fortunately, Jesus’ reply was, “I am willing; be made clean.”

    “…nor the running”

    οὐδὲ τοῦ τρέχοντος - ‘to run, strive to advance, exert effort, make progress’
    Of the 20 times this word is used, 18 times it is translated “run”!
    NO AMOUNT OF EFFORT on the part of MOSES, or the ISRAELITES could free them the their slavery in Egypt!

    “…but the showing of mercy God.”

    IN THE CONTEXT of God’s revealing His character to Moses (v.16), His deliverance is because of His MERCY/COMPASSION!
    It didn’t matter what they “willed” or “wanted”, NOR was it because of any “running” or “effort” on their part!
    They were delivered because of God showing mercy!
    In the same way, OUR SALVATION is not based on what we WANT to do, or WHAT we do, but rather on GOD SHOWING MERCY through Jesus Christ!
    The emphasis is NOT on our desire, or ability, but on God’s mercy!

    SECOND REASON: God’s Word to Pharoah! - (v.17)

    Romans 9:17 CSB
    17 For the Scripture tells Pharaoh, I raised you up for this reason so that I may display my power in you and that my name may be proclaimed in the whole earth.
    Exodus 9:16 CSB
    16 However, I have let you live for this purpose: to show you my power and to make my name known on the whole earth.
    Pharoah was an OBJECT LESSON from God!
    God tells us the WHAT: “…I raised you [Pharoah] up”
    God tells us the reasons WHY:
    “…so that I may display my power in you”
    “How did God do that?”
    Let me give you one example: Remember the Second Plague (Frogs)?
    Exodus 8:8–11 CSB
    8 Pharaoh summoned Moses and Aaron and said, “Appeal to the Lord to remove the frogs from me and my people. Then I will let the people go and they can sacrifice to the Lord.” 9 Moses said to Pharaoh, “You may have the honor of choosing. When should I appeal on behalf of you, your officials, and your people, that the frogs be taken away from you and your houses, and remain only in the Nile?” 10 “Tomorrow,” he answered. Moses replied, “As you have said, so that you may know there is no one like the Lord our God, 11 the frogs will go away from you, your houses, your officials, and your people. The frogs will remain only in the Nile.”
    “…and that my name may be proclaimed in the whole earth.”
    Exodus 18:10–11 CSB
    10 “Blessed be the Lord,” Jethro exclaimed, “who rescued you from the power of Egypt and from the power of Pharaoh. He has rescued the people from under the power of Egypt! 11 Now I know that the Lord is greater than all gods, because he did wonders when the Egyptians acted arrogantly against Israel.”
    Joshua 2:9–10 CSB
    9 and said to them, “I know that the Lord has given you this land and that the terror of you has fallen on us, and everyone who lives in the land is panicking because of you. 10 For we have heard how the Lord dried up the water of the Red Sea before you when you came out of Egypt, and what you did to Sihon and Og, the two Amorite kings you completely destroyed across the Jordan.
    Joshua 9:9 CSB
    9 They replied to him, “Your servants have come from a faraway land because of the reputation of the Lord your God. For we have heard of his fame, and all that he did in Egypt,

    SECOND CONCLUSION: “So then…” - (v.18)

    (v.18b) - “…he has mercy on whom he wants to have mercy”

    “Elect” is used twenty-seven times in the whole Bible (five times in Romans).
    God’s MERCY is spoken of over 400 times! Of the 31 times used in the NT, it is used 8 times in Romans, seven of those times in Romans 9 & 11!
    Romans 11:30–32 CSB
    30 As you once disobeyed God but now have received mercy through their disobedience, 31 so they too have now disobeyed, resulting in mercy to you, so that they also may now receive mercy. 32 For God has imprisoned all in disobedience so that he may have mercy on all.

    (v.18c) - “…and he hardens whom he wants to harden.”

    From σκληρύνει - ‘to make hard, stubborn, or resistant to movement or change.’
    This may be a surprise, but sometimes there are ‘stubborn’ individuals around! Their favorite hymn is, “I Shall Not Be Moved!” Unfortunately some folks think this is their spiritual gift!
    In our passage today, we are dealing with God’s hardening of Pharoah!
    “What does the Scripture actually SAY about this ‘hardening’?”

    Pharaoh’s stubbornness was PREDICTED!

    Exodus 4:21 CSB
    21 The Lord instructed Moses, “When you go back to Egypt, make sure you do before Pharaoh all the wonders that I have put within your power. But I will harden his heart so that he won’t let the people go.
    Exodus 7:3 CSB
    3 But I will harden Pharaoh’s heart and multiply my signs and wonders in the land of Egypt.
    Exodus 14:4 CSB
    4 I will harden Pharaoh’s heart so that he will pursue them. Then I will receive glory by means of Pharaoh and all his army, and the Egyptians will know that I am the Lord.” So the Israelites did this.

    Pharaoh Hardening was both PASSIVE and ACTIVE VOICE!

    Passive Voice - without reference to who was making him stubborn!
    Exodus 7:13 CSB
    13 However, Pharaoh’s heart was hard, and he did not listen to them, as the Lord had said.
    Exodus 7:22 CSB
    22 But the magicians of Egypt did the same thing by their occult practices. So Pharaoh’s heart was hard, and he would not listen to them, as the Lord had said.
    Exodus 9:7 CSB
    7 Pharaoh sent messengers who saw that not a single one of the Israelite livestock was dead. But Pharaoh’s heart was hard, and he did not let the people go.
    Exodus 9:35 CSB
    35 So Pharaoh’s heart was hard, and he did not let the Israelites go, as the Lord had said through Moses.
    Active Voice - meaning Pharoah hardened his own heart!
    Exodus 8:15 CSB
    15 But when Pharaoh saw there was relief, he hardened his heart and would not listen to them, as the Lord had said.
    Exodus 8:32 CSB
    32 But Pharaoh hardened his heart this time also and did not let the people go.
    Exodus 9:34 CSB
    34 When Pharaoh saw that the rain, hail, and thunder had ceased, he sinned again and hardened his heart, he and his officials.
    1 Samuel 6:6 CSB
    6 Why harden your hearts as the Egyptians and Pharaoh hardened theirs? When he afflicted them, didn’t they send Israel away, and Israel left?

    God Indeed Hardened Pharaoh’s Heart!

    Exodus 9:12 CSB
    12 But the Lord hardened Pharaoh’s heart and he did not listen to them, as the Lord had told Moses.
    Exodus 10:1 CSB
    1 Then the Lord said to Moses, “Go to Pharaoh, for I have hardened his heart and the hearts of his officials so that I may do these miraculous signs of mine among them,
    Exodus 10:20 CSB
    20 But the Lord hardened Pharaoh’s heart, and he did not let the Israelites go.
    Exodus 10:27 CSB
    27 But the Lord hardened Pharaoh’s heart, and he was unwilling to let them go.
    Exodus 11:10 CSB
    10 Moses and Aaron did all these wonders before Pharaoh, but the Lord hardened Pharaoh’s heart, and he would not let the Israelites go out of his land.
    Exodus 14:8 CSB
    8 The Lord hardened the heart of Pharaoh king of Egypt, and he pursued the Israelites, who were going out defiantly.
    Did God harden Pharaoh’s heart? Absolutely! But was he a victim of a vicious God?
    NO! Pharaoh AND the Egyptians were already culpable!
    There is NO UNRIGHTEOUSNESS with God!

      • Romans 9:15CSB

      • Exodus 33:19CSB

      • Exodus 32:8–10CSB

      • Exodus 32:13–14CSB

      • Romans 9:16CSB

      • John 5:1–8CSB

      • John 5:40CSB

      • Matthew 8:2–3CSB

      • Romans 9:17CSB

      • Exodus 9:16CSB

      • Exodus 8:8–11CSB

      • Exodus 18:10–11CSB

      • Joshua 2:9–10CSB

      • Joshua 9:9CSB

      • Romans 9:18LGCYSTNDRDBBLSB

      • Romans 11:30–32CSB

      • Exodus 4:21CSB

      • Exodus 7:3CSB

      • Exodus 14:4CSB

      • Exodus 7:13CSB

      • Exodus 7:22CSB

      • Exodus 9:7CSB

      • Exodus 9:35CSB

      • Exodus 8:15CSB

      • Exodus 8:32CSB

      • Exodus 9:34CSB

      • 1 Samuel 6:6CSB

      • Exodus 9:12CSB

      • Exodus 10:1CSB

      • Exodus 10:20CSB

      • Exodus 10:27CSB

      • Exodus 11:10CSB

      • Exodus 14:8CSB

SPRINGCREEK FELLOWSHIP
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