Romans 9:15–24

^15*For he said to Moses, “I will have mercy on anyone I wish; I will take pity on anyone I wish.” ¹⁶So then, everything depends, not on what human beings want or do, but only on God’s mercy. ^17*For the scripture says to the king of Egypt, “I made you king in order to use you to show my power and to spread my fame over the whole world.” ¹⁸So then, God has mercy on anyone he wishes, and he makes stubborn anyone he wishes.

God’s Anger and Mercy

¹⁹But one of you will say to me, “If this is so, how can God find fault with anyone? Who can resist God’s will?” ^20*But who are you, my friend, to answer God back? A clay pot does not ask the man who made it, “Why did you make me like this?” ²¹After all, the man who makes the pots has the right to use the clay as he wishes, and to make two pots from the same lump of clay, one for special occasions and the other for ordinary use.

²²And the same is true of what God has done. He wanted to show his anger and to make his power known. But he was very patient in enduring those who were the objects of his anger, who were doomed to destruction. ²³And he also wanted to reveal his abundant glory, which was poured out on us who are the objects of his mercy, those of us whom he has prepared to receive his glory. ²⁴For we are the people he called, not only from among the Jews but also from among the Gentiles.