By Romans 9:19-23
You will say to me then, “Why does he still find fault? For who can resist his will?” But who are you, O man, to answer back to God? Will what is molded say to its molder, “Why have you made me like this?” Has the potter no right over the clay, to make out of the same lump one vessel for honorable use and another for dishonorable use? 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.
Remembering what we looked at yesterday, it is quite easy to think to object to this profound doctrine of election. "If I can't come to Jesus for forgiveness without God choosing me to come, why would he still find any fault with me?" Do you get this objection? The doctrine was just laid out that no one can believe upon Jesus without God electing that individual from their mother's womb. Why then would God still blame anyone who does not come? I mean, they couldn't come without being elected right? So who's really to blame here, God or man?
Some who try to squirm off the horns of this dilemma will push for a high view of the independent and free will of man. They will see that Jacob and Esau (from yesterday's text), as symbolic for two nations; Israel and every other. When God says he hates Esau, he does not actually mean he hates Esau, he just hates what sinful nations do and desires for all people to come to Jesus for forgiveness.
Paul's answer to this objection is "silent!" He marvelously puts us in our place be reminding us that we are clay pots. We are not the Potter, we are the clay. How absurd it is to think that while the Potter is molding a vessel on his turning wheel, the vessel turns back up and says to the Potter, "hey, why did you make me like this?" The vessel has no right whatsoever to make any claims or complaints against the Potter. If the Potter decides to make a beautiful vessel that will hold the finest of wines in a king's court, or if he decides to make a large vessel for a toilet; what's that to the vessel? They clay itself is the same clay, it is just molded different for different purposes. And those purposes are determined by the Potter alone and not the pots.
It is good to be reminded of our state. You and I are clay pots. Each one is formed by God for a specific and special purpose. That purpose may be so that God's mercy will be put on display. Or that purpose may be so that God's justice and wrath will be put on display. God desires that we know him fully. Without various vessels, we may only know parts of God and not the whole. Who are we to complain against our Maker? We are clay pots. We ought not be consumed with how special or amazing some pots are, but how amazing the Potter is.
Come to Jesus dear sinner. You may have been chosen from your mother's womb, or you may not have. You will never know unless you come.
John 6:37 All that the Father gives me will come to me, and whoever comes to me I will never cast out.
Love, Jesus
Leading Family Devotions 