Romans 9:15–24

¹⁵For example, God said to Moses, “I will be kind to anyone I want to. I will be merciful to anyone I want to.” ¹⁶Therefore, God’s choice does not depend on a person’s desire or effort, but on God’s mercy. 

¹⁷For example, Scripture says to Pharaoh, “I put you here for this reason: to demonstrate my power through you and to spread my name throughout the earth.” ¹⁸Therefore, if God wants to be kind to anyone, he will be. If he wants to make someone stubborn, he will. 

¹⁹You may ask me, “Why does God still find fault with anyone? Who can resist whatever God wants to do?” 

²⁰Who do you think you are to talk back to God like that? Can an object that was made say to its maker, “Why did you make me like this?” ²¹A potter has the right to do whatever he wants with his clay. He can make something for a special occasion or something for everyday use from the same lump of clay. 

²²If God wants to demonstrate his anger and reveal his power, he can do it. But can’t he be extremely patient with people who are objects of his anger because they are headed for destruction? ²³Can’t God also reveal the riches of his glory to people who are objects of his mercy and whom he had already prepared for glory? ²⁴This is what God did for us whom he called—whether we are Jews or not.