March 24 Click on verses for Full Scripture

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Today's Pathway: Romans 8:21-23 Hath not the potter power over the clay, of the same lump to make one vessel unto honour, and another unto dishonour? What if God, willing to shew his wrath, and to make his power known, endured with much longsuffering the vessels of wrath fitted to destruction: And that he might make known the riches of his glory on the vessels of mercy, which he had afore prepared unto glory,

Paul has been discussing the fact that God gets to make choices, specifically in His dealings with nations. In verse 21 we saw that He is allowed to choose to make one vessel honorable and another dishonorable. It is interesting to note that in verse 21 He makes both vessels out of the same lump. So, the idea is that it is possible for God to treat one particular nation differently at different times. There could be times when He would honor it, and times when it would be dishonorable.

In verse 22 he adds another scenario: is it possible that God could have a nation that deserves to be judged, and yet He preserves them, and then shows mercy to them? Let's break verse 22 down. "Willing" means "to be inclined towards". So, in this verse, God is inclined to show His wrath and demonstrate His power against these vessels of wrath. If God has justifiable wrath, then there must be sin, and these vessels must at that point be dishonorable. These vessels deserve His judgment because they are "fitted for destruction". The word "fitted" is important. The word is reflexive, which means that this vessel "fitted" itself. This is not God's doing as some would teach. There is a very clear purpose in this use of this verb to relieve God of the responsibility and to put it fully on the shoulders of those who refuse to heed His Word and believe in His Son. This nation has chosen to rebel against God and has brought upon itself potential destruction. The word "destruction" means exactly what we think it does. It means "to destroy fully".

Yet, in spite of this nation's sin, God is longsuffering towards it. He endures their sin even though He would be justified in destroying them completely. According to verse 23 He does this so that He can show them mercy, and ultimately make known to them the riches of His glory. At that point they would be "vessels of honor". So you would have one lump that deserves to be destroyed because it has chosen to be dishonorable, but is preserved by God's mercy and ultimately becomes honorable. Who is this nation? It has to be Israel. They were God's chosen people, yet they rebelled against Him. Because of this they deserved His wrath. In fact, Hosea 1:6 God said,

"I will no more have mercy upon the house of Israel; but I will utterly take them away."

"Ye are not my people, and I will not be your God."

"She is not my wife, neither am I her husband."