To be honest, sometimes it can be a bit difficult reading Romans 9. While I’d expect nothing less in a god who is truly God than that He would be incomprehensible and sovereign, some of the implications of incomprehensible sovereignty can be a bit mind-stretching for this mere mortal. While I like the idea of God raising up “children of promise” and counting them as offspring (9:8), it’s a bit harder to settle into the reality of people raised up to be hardened so that God’s power and name would be known in them as objects of wrath (9:17-18). Yeah, there’s a bit to wrestle with here. And wrestling is good. For if I could completely wrap my head around God, He wouldn’t be God.

But, while sometimes I wrestle when reading Romans 9, other times I find a deep rest. While I might wonder at the mysterious ways of a God who is altogether other than us, I also find bubbling up a fountain of worship.

What if God, desiring to show His wrath and to make known His power, has endured with much patience vessels of wrath prepared for destruction, in order to make known the riches of His glory for vessels of mercy, which He has prepared beforehand for glory — even us whom He has called, not from the Jews only but also from the Gentiles?

(Romans 9:22-24 ESV)

Vessels of mercy . . . prepared beforehand for glory . . . even us . . . That’s what I’m chewing on this morning.

It’s been said by others far more eloquently, but the wonder is not that He chooses not to save some, but that He chooses to save any. For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God (Rom. 3:23) and the wages of sin is death (Rom. 6:23a). The default, logical, and just outcome for a creation which has embraced self-determination, thus rebelling against its Creator, is to end up as vessels of wrath. And yet, our God — who is merciful and gracious, slow to anger, and abounding in steadfast love and faithfulness (Ex. 34:6) — in order to make the riches of His glory known purposed to show unmerited favor towards vessels of mercy, determining to display such for all eternity as trophies of His grace (Eph. 2:4-7). Even us.

And so, I pause. I reflect. I marvel. I rest, wonder, and worship at being prepared beforehand for glory.

Why me, Lord? No idea. But oh, so grateful.

Nothing in my hand I bring;
Simply to Thy cross I cling.
(Rock of Ages, Toplady, verse 3)

Once far off but now brought near by the blood of Christ (Eph. 2:13). Not because of any merit in myself, but solely because He purposed that I would be a vessel of mercy. Not dependent upon my will and best efforts, but depending only upon the determination of a sovereign, incomprehensible God, “who has mercy” (Rom. 9:16).

Prepared beforehand for glory . . .

What can you say to that? How can you fully fathom that? I can’t.

And I can’t help but jump ahead . . .

Oh, the depth of the riches and wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are His judgments and how inscrutable His ways!

(Romans 11:33 ESV)

Resting in His grace. Worshiping for His glory.

Amen?