Romans 9:1-18 Lesson 300

Romans 9:1-18
Lesson 300

Read both the "King James Bible" and the "New Living Translation."

In this lesson:

God's choice.

Paul's sorrow for unbelieving Jews (9:2-5).

The real Jew is not the person descended from Abraham.
The children of God are those who've accepted the divine promise (9:6-12).

Beginning with this lesson and running through verse 11:36 (lesson 306);
God's sovereignty in saving Jew and Gentile.

Rebecca meets Abraham's servant.

By German artist Friedrich August Bouterwek (1806-1867).

Who was -

Rebecca-

Rebecca is the Greek name for Rebekah.  Rebekah was the daughter of Bethuel (Genesis 24:15; 24:24), Abraham's nephew (Genesis 22:23). A woman of great beauty (Genesis 24:16; 26:7), Rebekah was discovered by Abraham's servant, who was sent to the city of Nahor to find a wife for Abraham's son Isaac. She agreed to leave her home with the servant (Genesis 24:58-61) to meet Isaac and become his wife (Genesis 24:67).  After nineteen years of marriage, Rebekah gave birth to twin sons, Esau and Jacob (Genesis 25:24-26).  Jacob's name was eventually changed to Israel, and he became the patriarch of the Israelites and a central figure in Judaism and Christianity. The details of Rebekah's death are unknown, but she was buried in a cave of Machpelah (Genesis 49:30-31).

Isaac -

Hebrew for "he laughs," Isaac was Abraham and Sarah's only son (Ishmael was Abraham's son out of Hagar) miraculously born when Abraham was one hundred years old (Genesis 21:5) and Sarah ninety (Genesis 17:17). When Isaac was a youngster, God tested Abraham's faith by telling him to sacrifice the boy.  Abraham proved his unyielding devotion to God by preparing to offer Isaac up as a sacrifice when he was stopped by an "angel of the Lord" (Genesis 22:1-13; Hebrews 11:17; James 2:21).  Abraham's willingness to follow God's command earned him God's promise to make his descendants (the Israelites) a great people.  God repeated the promise to Isaac (Genesis 26:24) and eventually to Isaac's son, Jacob. Isaac trusted God and became an example of faith (Hebrews 11:20). Through him and Jacob, God fulfilled His promise to make the Israelites a great and populous people.  Isaac died in Hebron at one hundred and eighty years old (Genesis 35:28). You can read more about him in Genesis 17:15-28:22.

Jacob -

Also called Israel. With his twin brother Esau, Jacob was the son of Isaac and Rebekah and Abraham's grandson. Jacob, Isaac, and Abraham are three of the Old Testament's most important figures.  God chose Jacob over his brother Esau to fulfill His promise to Abraham to make Israel a great and populous nation (Genesis 48:1-22). With his mother Rebekah's help, Jacob conned his twin brother Esau out of his father's blessing and birthright (Genesis 25:27-34;
Genesis 27:1-45). The birthright included the land of Canaan promised to Jacob's father Isaac and grandfather Abraham. Esau vowed to kill Jacob for his trickery (Genesis 27:41), forcing Jacob to flee to his Uncle Laban in Haran.  On his way to Haran, Jacob had a vision of climbing a ladder ("Jacob's ladder") to heaven. When he reached the top, God repeated His promise to Isaac and Abraham (Genesis 28:12-14). Jacob and Esau eventually reconciled, and Jacob became a shining example of faith. Even when dying, he never doubted God's promise to make Israel a great nation (Hebrews 11:21-22).  Jacob died at the age of one hundred and forty-seven (Genesis 47:28).  In time, Moses led Jacob's descendants out of slavery in Egypt. Forty years later, Joshua led them into the promised land, thus fulfilling God's promise. Jacob is the patriarch of the Israelites, and the twelve tribes of Israel are named after his sons. You can learn more about Jacob in Genesis 25:1-37:36.

Esau -

Esau was the son of Isaac and Rebekah and Jacob's older twin brother. As the most senior, Esau was Isaac's natural heir but traded his birthright to his younger brother Jacob for a bowl of pottage (Genesis 25:29-34).  Against his parent's wishes, Esau married two Canaanite women (Genesis 26:34-35) and then tried to set things right by marrying his cousin Mahalath, the daughter of Ishmael (Genesis 28:8-9). Esau eventually aligned himself with the Ishmaelite tribes and became a powerful chief in the kingdom of Edom. While his twin brother Jacob became the patriarch of the Israelites, the Bible calls Esau the father of the Edomites (Genesis 36:43).  You can read more about Esau in Genesis 25:1-36:43.

Study Tip:

Reviewing past lessons helps tie the Bible together in your mind.

The Epistle of Paul The Apostle To The Romans

The King James Bible

Romans 9:1-18
God chooses Israel

1 I say the truth in Christ, I lie not, my conscience also bearing me witness in the Holy Ghost,

2 That I have great heaviness and continual sorrow in my heart.

3 For I could wish that myself were accursed from Christ for my brethren, my kinsmen according to the flesh:

4 Who are Israelites; to whom pertaineth the adoption, and the glory, and the covenants, and the giving of the law, and the service of God, and the promises;

5 Whose are the fathers, and of whom as concerning the flesh Christ came, who is over all, God blessed for ever. Amen.

6 Not as though the word of God hath taken none effect. For they are not all Israel, which are of Israel:

7 Neither, because they are the seed of Abraham, are they all children: but, In Isaac shall thy seed be called.

8 That is, They which are the children of the flesh, these are not the children of God: but the children of the promise are counted for the seed.

9 For this is the word of promise, At this time will I come, and Sarah shall have a son.

10 And not only this; but when Rebecca also had conceived by one, even by our father Isaac;

11 (For the children being not yet born, neither having done any good or evil, that the purpose of God according to election might stand, not of works, but of him that calleth;)

12 It was said unto her, The elder shall serve the younger.

13 As it is written, Jacob have I loved, but Esau have I hated.

14 What shall we say then? Is there unrighteousness with God? God forbid.

15 For he saith to Moses, I will have mercy on whom I will have mercy, and I will have compassion on whom I will have compassion.

16 So then it is not of him that willeth, nor of him that runneth, but of God that sheweth mercy.

17 For the scripture saith unto Pharaoh, Even for this same purpose have I raised thee up, that I might shew my power in thee, and that my name might be declared throughout all the earth.

18 Therefore hath he mercy on whom he will have mercy, and whom he will he hardeneth.

Margin notes:

"I lie not." (9:1) - "I don't lie." Paul made the same declaration to Timothy (1 Timothy 2:7).

"For I could wish that myself were accursed from Christ for my brethren." (9:3) - Paul wishes he could be separated from God (Exodus 32:32) and take the punishment meant
for his unbelieving Jewish brethren. While this expression of love is commendable, in truth, Jesus already took the punishment for our sins.

"Who are Israelites." (9:4) - The Israelites are the descendants of Abraham via Jacob, who God renamed Israel (Genesis 32:28). The New Testament calls them Jews.

"Adoption." (9:4) - God adopted Israel (Exodus 4:22; Jeremiah 31:9).

"The covenants." (9:4) - This refers to the covenants (agreements) God made with Abraham (Genesis 15:1-18; 17:1-14), the nation of Israel (Exodus 19:5; 24:1-4; Deuteronomy 29:1-15; Joshua 8:30-35), and with King David ( 2 Samuel 23:5; Psalms 89:3-4 and 132:11-12).

"The promises." (9:4) - In His covenants, God promised the Jewish people land, many descendants, and salvation through Jesus Christ.

"The fathers." (9:5) - The fathers of Israel are Abraham, Isaac, Joseph, Jacob, Moses, David, Joshua, and Samuel.

"Christ came, who is over all." (9:5) - Jesus is over all, the entire universe and everything in it. A point reinforced in John 3:31.

"They are not all Israel, which are of Israel." (9:6) - "Not all Jews are God's people."  God did not make a covenant with all of Abraham's descendants (Genesis 17:19).

"Because they are the seed of Abraham, are they all children."(9:7) - Just because Jews are descendants of Abraham doesn't make them children of God (Romans 2:28-29). Both Jacob and Esau were descendants, but only Jacob was blessed. The greatest hinderance to the early church was Jewish disbelief. "While considerable numbers of Jews, especially in Judea, had become Christians, yet the Nation as a whole was not only unbelieving but bitterly antagonistic." ("Halley's Bible Handbook" by Henry H. Halley, Zondervan Publishing House, Grand Rapids, Michigan; pg.589)

"In Isaac shall thy seed be called." (9:7) - This refers to Isaac's children (Genesis 21:12; Hebrews 11:18).

"The children of the promise." (9:8) - Again, the brethren of Isaac, not Ishmael, received God's promise (Galatians 4:28).

"Sarah shall have a son." (9:9) - Genesis 18:10;18:14.

"Rebecca also had conceived by one." (9:10) - Rebecca conceived twin boys by her husband, Isaac (Genesis 25:21-26).

"The children... not yet born" *(9:11) - Refers to Isaac's sons, Jacob and Esau.

"The elder shall serve the younger." (9:12) - "The older (son) will serve the younger." Paraphrased from Genesis 25:23.

"As it is written Jacob have I loved, but Esau have I hated." (9:13) - God chose Israel, the nation descended from Jacob, over the kingdom of Edom (descendants of Esau), as recorded in Malachi1:2-4. Both nations were conquered by Babylon, but Israel rose again, Edom didn't.

"I will have mercy on whom I will have mercy." (9:15) - From Exodus 33:19.

"It is not of him that willeth." (9:16) - It is not by our will; it is God who chooses who (individuals, nations) to show mercy to.

"Even for this same purpose have I raised thee up." (9:17) - God did not raise up Pharaoh to enslave Jews. But being all-knowing, God knew that Pharaoh was evil and used him for His own ends. Paraphrased from Exodus 9:16.

"Whom he will he hardeneth." (9:18) - God hardened Pharaoh's heart (Exodus 4:21; 7:13; 9:12) after Pharaoh had hardened it first (Exodus 8:15; 8:32; 9:34). The hardened sinner can not blame God, only themselves.

New Living Translation

Romans 9:1-18
God's Selection of Israel

1 With Christ as my witness, I speak with utter truthfulness. My conscience and the Holy Spirit confirm it.

2 My heart is filled with bitter sorrow and unending grief

3 for my people, my Jewish brothers and sisters. I would be willing to be forever cursed-cut off from Christ!-if that would save them.

4 They are the people of Israel, chosen to be God's adopted children. God revealed his glory to them. He made covenants with them and gave them his law. He gave them the privilege of worshiping him and receiving his wonderful promises.

5 Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob are their ancestors, and Christ himself was an Israelite as far as his human nature is concerned. And he is God, the one who rules over everything and is worthy of eternal praise! Amen.

6 Well then, has God failed to fulfill his promise to Israel? No, for not all who are born into the nation of Israel are truly members of God's people!

7 Being descendants of Abraham doesn't make them truly Abraham's children. For the Scriptures say, "Isaac is the son through whom your descendants will be counted," though Abraham had other children, too.

8 This means that Abraham's physical descendants are not necessarily children of God. Only the children of the promise are considered to be Abraham's children.

9 For God had promised, "I will return about this time next year, and Sarah will have a son."

10 This son was our ancestor Isaac. When he married Rebekah, she gave birth to twins.

11 But before they were born, before they had done anything good or bad, she received a message from God. (This message shows that God chooses people according to his own purposes;

12 he calls people, but not according to their good or bad works.) She was told, "Your older son will serve your younger son."

13 In the words of the Scriptures, "I loved Jacob, but I rejected Esau."

14 Are we saying, then, that God was unfair? Of course not!

15 For God said to Moses,

"I will show mercy to anyone I choose,
and I will show compassion to anyone I choose."

16 So it is God who decides to show mercy. We can neither choose it nor work for it.

17 For the Scriptures say that God told Pharaoh, "I have appointed you for the very purpose of displaying my power in you and to spread my fame throughout the earth."

18 So you see, God chooses to show mercy to some, and he chooses to harden the hearts of others so they refuse to listen.

This second Bible text from the "New Living Translation" (Tyndale House, Publishers, Wheaton, Illinois) is a paraphrase and not an accurate word for word translation of the Bible. However, it is a helpful tool when read with the "King James Version."

Today's Question:

1. Does God choose who will be saved? (9:15-16)

To learn more, study the Bible every day.
These lessons shouldn't be your only contact with God.

Answer: (Do you agree?)

1. No, each person makes their own choice on what kind of life to live and whether or not to follow Christ. While it is true that God knows, even before we are born, what choices we will make, they are still our choices.

In His infinite wisdom, God will show mercy and compassion on His own terms, according to the conditions He has set. God has decided how to grant salvation and what conditions must be met. Those who meet God's conditions will readily receive His mercy. God's grace is the source of that mercy and not the will of man.

Application thought for the day:

What lessons about God's mercy can we learn from this passage and apply to our lives?

Thanks to the writings and commentary of John Wesley and Adam Clarke. Also, "The Layman's Bible Study Notebook" by Irving Jensen published by Harvest House Publishing, Irvine, California; the "Life Change Series" published by NavPress books, Colorado Springs, Colorado; the "Life Application Study Bible" published by Tyndale House Publishing, Carol Stream, Illinois; the "Quest Study Bible" published by The Zondervan Corporation, Grand Rapids, Michigan; "Robertson's New Testament Word Studies;" "The MacArthur Bible Commentary" by John MacArthur published by Thomas Nelson, Nashville, Tennessee; "Wisdom of the Bible" CD by Topics Entertainment, Inc., Renton, Washington for their inspiring pictures; "My utmost for His Highest" by Oswald Chambers published by Barbour Publishing, Inc., Uhrichsville, Ohio; The "Treasury of Scriptural Knowledge" by Reuben Archer Torrey; "Hope For Each Day" by Billy Graham published by J. Countryman, a division of Thomas Nelson, Inc., Nashville, Tennessee; "Easton's Bible Dictionary" by Matthew George Easton; "Unger's Bible Dictionary" by Merrill F. Unger, published by Moody Press, Chicago, Illinois; "Halley's Bible Handbook" by Henry H. Halley, Zondervan Publishing House, Grand Rapids, Michigan; "The Everyday Bible" published by World Wide Publications, Minneapolis, Minnesota; "The Living New Testament" published by Tyndale house; "The New Living Translation" published by Tyndale House; "The New Testament" translated from the Latin Vulgate, published by Guild Press, New York, New York; BibleGateway.com for all their wonderful links; and of course the "King James Bible." All were critical in putting these lessons together.
© 2022 evolke

Subscribe for Free Bible Lessons