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59_Vessels of wrath or Vessels of mercy

Ex 9:15-17 For by now I could have put out my hand and struck you and your people with pestilence, and you would have been cut off from the earth. 16 But for this purpose I have raised you up, to show you my power, so that my name may be proclaimed in all the earth. 17 You are still exalting yourself against my people and will not let them go.

Rom 9: 22 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, 23 in order to make known the riches of his glory for vessels of mercy, which he has prepared beforehand for glory?

Both diamonds and coal are formed from carbon, but their outcomes are determined by the difference in pressure and time. Pharaoh, like coal, chose the path that was easier for his flesh. He resisted repentance and remained in his natural state—hardened, fuel for the fire. In contrast, Moses submitted his dearest dreams of being Israel’s deliverer to God, and remained a humble and unknown shepherd in the back of the desert for forty long years. He came out as a raw diamond. Truly, those who submit to God’s refining process, like carbon under intense pressure, are his chosen vessels of mercy. They are precious and become radiant jewels for God’s glory.

The parable of carbon shows that the very same material is transformed into very different forms depending on the process it undergoes. The story of Pharaoh, as recounted in Exodus 7–10, serves as a sobering example of a vessel of wrath, a man who deliberately chose not to submit to God’s known will and express commandment. Ultimately, he became an example of God’s judgment to the world, like one set apart to demonstrate His power and justice.

The question that many people ask at once is: If God hardens the hearts of some, how can they be held accountable? How can He justly condemn them? Against the context of God’s goodness and love, already set forth plainly in the previous chapters, Romans 9:18-21 asserts God’s sovereign right to do as he wishes, as long as he does no injustice. “Hath not the potter power over the clay, of the same lump to make one vessel unto honor and another unto dishonor?” God cannot do anything unjust or wrong.
The right of the just and good Creator to create everything according to his plan is indisputable, and to be reverently acknowledged by all creation without murmuring and rebellion.

It is crucial to note the distinction between the preparation of vessels for wrath and vessels for mercy. In Romans 9:22, the phrase “vessels of wrath fitted to destruction” is in the passive voice, implying that these vessels are prepared for destruction, not directly by God, but through their own choices and actions. In contrast, Romans 9:23 speaks of “vessels of mercy, which He had prepared beforehand for glory,” using the active voice, where God is the one actively working. While God is sovereign, people destined for wrath work out their own evil destiny by their rebellion and rejection of what is good. By refusing the fear of the Lord, they sow their own death. Judas Iscariot chose to betray Christ, fully aware of the truth that he was innocent and that he was putting his master in great danger. He paid the price for his choices.

Pharaoh’s story repeats this theme. God, in His sovereignty, could have destroyed Pharaoh in an instant, seeing his rebellion and hardened heart. Yet Pharaoh’s life was prolonged. He witnessed all ten plagues and knew that he was dealing with the God of gods, even of Egypt’s gods. He knew that he was in the wrong. He had numerous warnings that the final victory would not be his but God’s. He knew that his oppression of the Israelites was unjust. He was warned that his stubbornness would lead to a calamitous downfall. His story would proclaim to the whole earth that God executes his justice in great power on those who oppose him.

Yet, instead of submitting, Pharaoh hardened his heart. Five times, the Scripture explicitly states that Pharaoh hardened his own heart, and five times it says that God hardened his heart. This interplay of human responsibility and divine sovereignty reveals that Pharaoh’s destruction was the result of his persistent refusal to yield to God.

God’s deliberate choice to give Pharaoh time aligns with Romans 9:22. God is very patient even with those on whom his anger falls, who are destined for destruction because of their own wickedness and unrepentant hearts. His patience with impenitent sinners makes his glorious kindness shine even brighter in the vessels he has prepared for mercy.

Pharaoh’s defiance reminds us of Ecclesiastes 8:11: “Because the sentence against an evil deed is not executed speedily, the heart of the children of man is fully set to do evil.” the goodness of God, his patience and longsuffering, must not be mistaken for his absence or blindness, or weakness. Judgment seems to be delayed but that does not mean it will not come. God’s patience should not be mistaken for approval or indifference.

The wrath of God is not arbitrary. It is just, proportionate, slow-burning, and ultimately purposeful. Romans 1:18 reminds us that “the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who suppress the truth in unrighteousness.” God’s wrath is directed against sin and rebellion; it is never without cause. In the case of the Canaanites, God waited over 600 years until their iniquity was “complete.” (Genesis 15:16). With Sodom and Gomorrah, God’s judgment followed a personal investigation and a final opportunity for repentance. God’s wrath is slow to ignite, giving ample time for repentance, but it is certain.

For those who have fled to Christ for refuge, however, there is assured safety. As 1 Thessalonians 5:9 declares, “For God has not destined us for wrath, but to obtain salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ.” Believers may suffer the wrath of man or Satan, but they are shielded from God’s wrath through Christ. This distinction between believers and unbelievers emphasizes the fearful reality of rejecting God’s mercy. Hebrews 10:31 warns, “It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God.” The day of His wrath, as described in Revelation 6:15-17, will leave no refuge for those who have rejected Him.

The cross of Christ stands as the ultimate demonstration of both God’s wrath and His mercy. Christ became a sin offering for us. By his suffering, the way has been opened for us to come to God in peace and without fear, as those destined for mercy, prepared for glory. He offers the gift of eternal life to all who call him their Lord. Those who humbly rely on God’s grace by faith in him, following him wherever he leads and whatever he says, are vessels of mercy.

God’s grace and mercy call for a response. God’s patience is not limitless. The time to respond is now. Have we truly accepted Christ and the grace of God he has brought to us, by yielding unconditionally to him? Do we humbly obey him, as vessels of honor, or do we resist, like Pharaoh, and remain defiant and hardened?

The choice is ours. While God is sovereign, He has created us with freedom of will. As men and women created by him, we ought to understand that this freedom is the freedom to surrender our will to him in faith and humility. Let us wholeheartedly submit to his good and perfect will for us. Then, as vessels of mercy, prepared for His purposes, our lives of faith will reflect the riches of His glory. God bless you.