For He says to Moses, "I will have mercy on whom I have mercy, and I will have compassion on whom I have compassion."
Truth to Learn
God’s compassion and mercy are based on His choice, not ours. He is sovereign over all.
Behind the Words
“I will have mercy” is translated from the verb eleeō, which means “to have compassion or mercy on a person in wretched circumstances.” The emphasis of this verb is on the intent to take action. It refers to the showing of mercy rather than the feeling of compassion.
The Greek verb translated “I will have compassion” is oikteirō. This verb also refers to having compassion or mercy, but the emphasis is on the tender feeling of compassion rather than the intent to take action.
Meaning Explained
By way of further explanation of his current rhetorical question (Is there unrighteousness with God?), Paul is going to show a few examples of God’s sovereignty over mankind demonstrated through His actions. The first example involves the Israelites and Moses.
Allow me to set the background for today’s quotation from the book of Exodus. God has led the people out of Egypt, through the Red Sea, and up to Mount Sinai. There, Moses was called by God to come up the mountain where he remained for forty days to receive the Law.
While Moses was up on the mountain, however, the Israelites got impatient with him and his God. They demanded that Aaron, Moses’ brother, create a golden calf for them to worship. On coming down from the mountain, Moses saw the golden calf and the people celebrating and worshipping their false god. He became so angry that he broke the tables of stone containing the Ten Commandments.
After this, Moses went before God and confessed the sins of the Israelites asking that they be forgiven. As he met with God in the tabernacle in the wilderness, a pillar of smoke appeared before the door of the tabernacle. Moses was speaking to God face to face but could not see him because of the smoke. God proclaimed that Moses had found favor in His sight (Moses was chosen) so he pleaded
Please, show me Your glory. (Exodus 33:18)
This is the point at which God proclaimed that it was His choice alone to show mercy to whomever He chose, and that He would feel compassion on whomever He chose.
The Jewish Christians in Rome would have recognized this quotation of the Old Testament as a proclamation of God’s righteousness and His sovereignty over all of mankind, to do as He pleases without violating anyone’s righteousness. He was refusing to show mercy to all the Jews but was expressing his feeling of compassion toward Moses by His own choice and thus allowed Moses to behold some of His glory.
Application
Before we put God in a box and expect Him to do whatever we ask (or tell) Him to do, let’s recognize that God’s compassion and mercy are based on His choice, not ours. He is sovereign over all!
In God's service, for His glory,
Copyright © 2018 Will Krause. All rights reserved
