God's Sovereignty
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Is God an unfair God?
Is God an unfair God?
Looking back at last week, Is it fair that God loved Jacob and hated Esau? After all they had done nothing yet, had not even sinned yet because they had not even been born. Is that fair? That is the question we are going to answer tonight.
---We are going to be in this evening but before we turn there I want to start with another
Turn with me to .
23 “Therefore the kingdom of heaven may be compared to a king who wished to settle accounts with his servants. 24 When he began to settle, one was brought to him who owed him ten thousand talents. 25 And since he could not pay, his master ordered him to be sold, with his wife and children and all that he had, and payment to be made. 26 So the servant fell on his knees, imploring him, ‘Have patience with me, and I will pay you everything.’ 27 And out of pity for him, the master of that servant released him and forgave him the debt. 28 But when that same servant went out, he found one of his fellow servants who owed him a hundred denarii, and seizing him, he began to choke him, saying, ‘Pay what you owe.’ 29 So his fellow servant fell down and pleaded with him, ‘Have patience with me, and I will pay you.’ 30 He refused and went and put him in prison until he should pay the debt. 31 When his fellow servants saw what had taken place, they were greatly distressed, and they went and reported to their master all that had taken place. 32 Then his master summoned him and said to him, ‘You wicked servant! I forgave you all that debt because you pleaded with me. 33 And should not you have had mercy on your fellow servant, as I had mercy on you?’ 34 And in anger his master delivered him to the jailers, until he should pay all his debt. 35 So also my heavenly Father will do to every one of you, if you do not forgive your brother from your heart.”
-Now as a preface this passage is dealing with forgiveness, but I want to look at one very specific aspect of this passage. Does anyone find the king to be unfair?
-Generally most people will say no! Of course not! Why?
-We see that this servant is a despicable person right I mean the bum couldn’t pay his debt then instead of accepting his good graces and moving on and living peacefully, he goes and attacks someone that owes him money and refuses to show him mercy. We see this man as horrible right? What if this horrible picture wasn’t painted of someone what if it was my wife, would we still call the king fair for having mercy? Of course I would because she is a nice and kind and all around great to me. But what if the king decided to not show mercy on say Mrs. Michelle would we still say He was fair?
I would because a debt was still owed so why would we not expect it to be paid?
In fact who would we be to question the King?
14 What shall we say then? Is there injustice on God’s part? By no means! 15 For he says to Moses, “I will have mercy on whom I have mercy, and I will have compassion on whom I have compassion.” 16 So then it depends not on human will or exertion, but on God, who has mercy. 17 For the Scripture says to Pharaoh, “For this very purpose I have raised you up, that I might show my power in you, and that my name might be proclaimed in all the earth.” 18 So then he has mercy on whomever he wills, and he hardens whomever he wills.
So in light of our discussion we just had What are we to say? Is there any unrighteousness on God’s part?
Of course not! Now lets look at the explanation why
Somebody turn to
17 And the Lord said to Moses, “This very thing that you have spoken I will do, for you have found favor in my sight, and I know you by name.” 18 Moses said, “Please show me your glory.” 19 And he said, “I will make all my goodness pass before you and will proclaim before you my name ‘The Lord.’ And I will be gracious to whom I will be gracious, and will show mercy on whom I will show mercy.
Israel had just finished building and worshiping the Golden Calf, God had just sent a plague on them for that and told Moses for Israel to move on and He would not go with them because
3 Go up to a land flowing with milk and honey; but I will not go up among you, lest I consume you on the way, for you are a stiff-necked people.”
Was God acting fairly? Why do you say God is acting fairly or unfairly?
Going back to 17-19 Why then is God warning Israel about His mercy and compassion?
14 What shall we say then? Is there injustice on God’s part? By no means! 15 For he says to Moses, “I will have mercy on whom I have mercy, and I will have compassion on whom I have compassion.” 16 So then it depends not on human will or exertion, but on God, who has mercy. 17 For the Scripture says to Pharaoh, “For this very purpose I have raised you up, that I might show my power in you, and that my name might be proclaimed in all the earth.” 18 So then he has mercy on whomever he wills, and he hardens whomever he wills.
Focus on Vs 16 for our answer so that it does not depend on Human achievements or works.
What about the gospel message depends on us?
Nothing!!
VS 17-18 read then lets go back to Pharaoh in Exodus start in 7:13;22 8:15;19;32 9:7;12;35
Well it sounds like it could be read that Pharaoh himself was just not listening to God. then someone read
1 Then the Lord said to Moses, “Go in to Pharaoh, for I have hardened his heart and the heart of his servants, that I may show these signs of mine among them, 2 and that you may tell in the hearing of your son and of your grandson how I have dealt harshly with the Egyptians and what signs I have done among them, that you may know that I am the Lord.”
So then I go back to the question of the king do you think the king unfair for forgiving a debt that is owed? Do you think it is unfair for the king to demand a debt be paid that is owed?
This is Paul’s point: Who are we to to call God unrighteous or unfair when everyone of us have sinned against him. We all owe Him a debt that we can not pay. So who are we to get mad at God when we are the ones who owe the debt. We should be like that servant who fell before the king to beg for mercy. We need should do the same thing fall down realizing we have sinned and offended a Holy God, and there is nothing to do but to throw ourselves upon the mercy of God. Amazing thing is if you are sincere He is faithful with His mercy.