Romans Chapter 9

Romans Chapter 9

Paul says that the truth is in Christ and he’s not lying. His conscience bears witness in the Holy Ghost. He has great heaviness and continual sorrow in my heart (poor Paul)!

He could wish the he was accursed from Christ in favor of his brethren, his own kinsmen according to the mortal rules. They are Israelites who the aforementioned adoption, glory, covenants, giving of law, service of God and the promises were given to. It is for them and their fathers that Christ came in the flesh, who is over everyone else. He’s blessed by God forever. Amen. (He loves to say “Amen” when he mentions old JC… I’m not a fan. It feels very tacked on to my ears, but that’s just me.)

It’s not like the word of God didn’t take any effect (errr, did someone say that it hadn’t?). They are not all Israel who are from Israel (come again?). They’re also not all children even though they’re the seed of Abraham, but in Isaac they’ll be called seed.

That is, those folks who are the “children of the flesh” aren’t the children of God, but the children of the promise are counted for the seed. (Whose kids now?)

This is the word of promise, “At this time will I come, and Sara shall have a son”. (Oh are we back to the sex with corpse thing again?) “And not only [this]; but when Rebecca also had conceived by one, [even] by our father Isaac”. Paul adds in some parenthesis here to tell us that the children who were not yet born had not done any good or evil, so the purpose of God, according to election could stand not of deeds but solely of his calling. (So, it’s not really important what you do, you’re either called by God or you’re not… okay, right.) Back to the quotation… “It was said unto her, The elder shall serve the younger.” (Wow, Bec’s must have been shocked, everyone knows children have to serve their parents. In this world who serves who is a finite matter and one of critical importance… it’s all very unnatural to us Americans… but whatever). This is the last line of what Paul is quoting from the Old Testament… “As it is written, Jacob have I loved, but Esau have I hated.” (Ouch! That’s mean, right? But, Jacob Have I Loved is a darn decent book for adolescents. I recommend it).

What shall we say then? (I don’t know Paul, enlighten us, will you?) Is there unrighteousness with God? (ooo ooo… I know the answer is it, God Forbid?) God Forbid. (Love it when I’m right, at least the guy is consistent).

God told Moses that he’d have mercy on whoever he felt like have mercy on and compassion would be the same. (Nice, not capricious at all). So then, it’s not what someone wants, nor is it for someone to run, it’s all about who God wants to show mercy to.

The scripture said to the Pharaoh, that it is even for this purpose that he was raised, so God could show his power in him, and that his name can be declared thoughout all the earth. (I wonder if the Pharoah laughed when God told him that. I’m pretty sure most of the Pharoah’s weren’t big on spreading the word about the errr… uh… one true god).

Therefore he had mercy on whoever he wanted and he hardened to any he didn’t want to have mercy on. (I’m not sure if that’s God or the Pharoah, but either way it’s not really the type of justice I like to strive for).

We might ask Paul, why does he still find fault? Who has resisted his will? (I don’t know why we’d ask that, I think it might be better to ask something like, how does God decide who to be merciful towards? It might give you a better idea of what kind of a loonie you’re dealing with. Secondly, who HASN’T resisted his alleged will at this point?)

Paul asks us who we are to reply against God? Should you ask your creator why you were made in the way that you were? (Uh, I don’t see why not. Sometimes when I sew a stuffed animal I pretend it talks to me and asks me questions like why one arm is shorter than the other. I’m honest enough to say that I either cut the fabric wrong of stitched too far in, but I also tell them that I love them anyway and I hope they’re not mad because I messed up).

Doesn’t the potter have power over the clay, of the same lump that makes one vessel into honor and another to dishonor? (So I guess potter’s don’t talk to their pots the way I talk to my creations. Even my shirts sometimes ask me why I picked the ugly fabric that I did, or why the hem is so uneven).

What if God, who is willing to show his wrath and make his power known endured with much longsuffering the vessels of wrath fitted to destruction. (I would say, God should probably chill out if he’s making wrath vessels).

He might make known the riches of his wonderful glory on the vessels of mercy which he has already prepared. (Um, maybe he needs more mercy vessels and few wrath vessels… just a thought).

Even us, the people he has called, not just Jews, but also Gentiles? (Like Romans, for example).

He said in Osee that he would call them his people who were not even his people and he would call her beloved who was not beloved. (Aww, I hope everyone is beloved of someone… but I’m glad everyone is not Beloved from that horrible Toni Morrison book).

And it will come to pass in the place where it was said that you are not my people, there they will be called the children of the living God. (Eck. What place? What people?)

Esaias cried concerning Israel (is that John the Baptist, or no?). though the number of the children of Israel are like the sand of the sea, only remnant will be saved. Then he will finish the work and cut it short in righteousness. The Lord will make short work on earth.

And as Esaias said before, Thankfully the Lord left us a seed, otherwise we’d be like Sodoma and Gomorrha.

What should we say then? (I know you’ll tell us Paulie) The Gentiles, who didn’t follow righteousness have still attained the righteousness of faith.

But Israel, who did follow righteousness, didn’t attain it.

Why? Because they didn’t seek it through faith but by the law. They stumbled at the stumblingstone (sounds hard to avoid, it is called a stumblingstone).

As it is written, “Behold, I lay in Sion a stumblingstone and rock of offence: and whosoever believeth on him shall not be ashamed”.

Yeah, okay. Nothing more to add, except… when will this project be over. My mind is reeling over my own stupidity for assuming there was going to be something meaningful and good in this book!