The irresistible will of God.

Romans 9:19-20 You will say to me then, “Why does He still find fault? For who resists His will?” On the contrary, who are you, O man, who answers back to God? The thing molded will not say to the molder, “Why did you make me like this,” will it? That’s quite a question, isn’t it? It’s the natural question based on what the Scripture said to Pharaoh. God’s purpose was for hard-hearted Pharaoh to resist the immediate will of God to let God’s people go out from Egypt so God could work out His ultimate will of demonstrating His power and making His name great through His hardened-hearted resistance. So the question was: How can God still hold Pharaoh at fault because ultimately God’s will was done? Paul’s answer shows how we are all at fault for arrogantly placing God on the stand as if He, the molder of all creation, owes us an explanation. Have you ever been guilty of questioning God’s will, character, justice, and righteousness? Who is Pharaoh (the man in Paul’s example) that He would say to His maker, “Why did you make me like this?” First, Pharaoh would not say that because from Pharaoh’s perspective, God didn’t make him do it. Pharaoh did what he wanted to do. He hardened his heart purposefully and willingly against God and His people. Exodus 8:15 “But when Pharaoh saw that there was relief, he hardened his heart and did not listen to them, as the LORD had said.” Exodus 8:32 “But Pharaoh hardened his heart this time also, and he did not let the people go.” Second, our hearts are incredibly deceitful and proud on this side of the veil. We are blinded to the omnipotence, ultimate purpose, glory and power of God. If we could see Him clearly, as we will on that great Day of judgment, we will not open our mouths to accuse God of anything. As Paul wrote in chapter 3. “let God be found true, though every man be found a liar, as it is written, “that You may be justified in Your words, and prevail when You are judged.’ ” The only time God will ever be judged is now on this side of “that Day” by His creatures who think they are god. Every man will see the “why” or purpose of his life. He will see his part in His story, and every knee will bow and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord to the glory of God. As for us, be encouraged that even though you do not see completely all that God has planned in Christ, you do know why God has molded you the way He has molded you. He is molding you into the image of God through everything in your life so that on “that Day” He may be glorified by His Son revealed in and through you as you live to love with Jesus. Wow! What a purpose! What a blessing! What glory to God! Acknowledgment: Music from “Carried by the Father” by Eric Terlizzi. www.ericterlizzi.com