“For the Scripture says to the Pharaoh, ‘For this very purpose I have raised you up, that I may show My power in you, and that My name may be declared in all the earth’” (Romans 9:17).
Between the sixth and seventh plagues Jehovah brought on Egypt, Moses was instructed to tell Pharaoh: “Let My people go, that they may serve Me, for at this time I will send all My plagues to your very heart, and on your servants and on your people, that you may know that there is none like Me in all the earth. Now if I had stretched out My hand and struck you and your people with pestilence, then you would have been cut off from the earth. But indeed for this purpose I have raised you up, that I may show My power in you, and that My name may be declared in all the earth. As yet you exalt yourself against My people in that you will not let them go. Behold, tomorrow about this time I will cause very heavy hail to rain down, such as has not been in Egypt since its founding until now” (Exodus 9:13-18).
Because of His sovereignty, Jehovah inherently deserves obedience to His will. Because He is holy, His will is always and thoroughly righteous. Because of His faithfulness, His word always comes to pass; it never fails to take effect. Therefore, when He offers mercy and compassion to those who will obey Him, He is to be obeyed.
What was said of Pharaoh in the 15th century B. C.—“for this purpose I have raised you up, that I may show My power in you, and that My name may be declared in all the earth”—could also be said of Paul’s countrymen according to the flesh in the first century A. D.
Just as God could raise up Pharaoh in Moses’ day, hardened his heart through the declaration of His righteous word and Pharaoh’s stubborn rejection of it, and bring about the emancipation of the Hebrews from Egyptian bondage, He could also raise up the Jews in Jesus’ day, harden their hearts through the declaration of His righteous word and the Jews’ stubborn rejection of it, and bring about the salvation of all humanity from the bondage of sin.
Though separated by about 1,500 years, both events decisively demonstrate God’s faithfulness to His word, His sovereignty over humanity, and His pristine righteousness.
“Indeed, O man, who are you to reply against God?” (Romans 9:22)!
