“What shall we say then? Is there unrighteousness with God? Certainly not! For He says to Moses, “I will have mercy on whomever I will have mercy, and I will have compassion on whomever I will have compassion.” 16 So then it is not of him who wills, nor of him who runs, but of God who shows mercy.” – Romans 9:14-16
Romans 9:14 asks a question that echoes through every heart that’s wrestled with God’s sovereignty: “What shall we say then? Is there unrighteousness with God?” Paul’s answer is swift and emphatic—“Certainly not!” From Romans 3 through 8, Paul has laid out the beauty of salvation by grace through faith. It brings peace with God, ends our enmity, and assures us that nothing can separate us from His love. But now, in chapter 9, Paul addresses a deeper concern: if God’s promises to Israel seem unfulfilled, can we still trust Him? Paul’s answer is yes—because God’s promises were never based on physical descent but on faith. “For they are not all Israel who are of Israel” (Romans 9:6). God’s Word has not failed; it’s always been about the heart.
To prove this, Paul brings up Isaac and Ishmael, Jacob and Esau. These weren’t just brothers—they were twins, born of the same parents, yet chosen differently. God’s choice of Jacob over Esau wasn’t based on merit or effort, but on His sovereign purpose. This raises the natural question: “Is that fair?” Paul anticipates it and answers with Scripture, not speculation. He quotes Exodus 33:19: “I will have mercy on whomever I will have mercy.” God’s mercy is not a wage earned but a gift given. Like the vineyard owner in Jesus’ parable who paid all workers the same, God reminds us that He is not unjust—He is generous. Our sense of fairness is often shaped by pride and limited perspective. But God’s justice is perfect, and His mercy is His to give.
Moses understood this when he asked to see God’s glory after Israel’s rebellion. God responded not with a display of power, but with a declaration of His character: “I will have compassion on whom I will have compassion” (Exodus 33:19). When we’re discouraged by the sin around us—or even within us—the best remedy is a fresh vision of God’s glory. Like Noah watching the door of the ark shut by God’s hand, we’re reminded that salvation is not ours to control. And like David, who chose to fall into God’s hands rather than man’s, we must trust that God’s mercy is always mingled with righteousness. We may not understand why He chooses some and not others, but we must remember: none of us deserve mercy. The wonder is not that God withholds—it’s that He gives at all.
Paul concludes this section with a humbling truth: “So then it is not of him who wills, nor of him who runs, but of God who shows mercy” (Romans 9:16). Our desires and efforts matter, but they are not the source of salvation. Like sailors navigating a ship, we must be diligent—but the wind and sea, representing God’s mercy, determine the journey’s success. Or think of a plant: it needs soil and care, but only God can make it grow. Salvation begins and ends with Him. So what’s our role? To believe. To trust. To rest in the righteousness of a God who never fails, never lies, and never makes a wrong choice. Let this truth humble you, anchor you, and stir your heart to worship the One who shows mercy—not because He must, but because He delights to.
“Paul hotly denies any possibility of unrighteousness on God’s part. But instead of watering down God’s sovereignty in order to make it more palatable to these objectors, he proceeds to restate it more vigorously and without apology.” – William MacDonald
surrendered devotions 