04-01-25 part 2: Mercy, Majesty, and Mystery: When God Is God and We Are Not

 

1. The God Who Chooses
Dr. David Spoon tackles Romans 9 with boldness and clarity, reminding listeners that the mercy of God is not earned—it’s chosen. Drawing from Exodus 33, Spoon emphasizes that God declared to Moses, “I will show mercy to whom I choose,” and that this declaration still stands. Human striving, moral effort, or intelligence cannot manipulate divine mercy. It is God's alone to give. Spoon pushes back against the modern notion that people have the final say, underlining a key biblical truth: God is not beholden to human standards. He is sovereign, just, and absolutely in charge.

2. Pharaoh and the Power of Purpose
As Paul recounts the story of Pharaoh, Spoon dives into one of Scripture’s most uncomfortable truths—God hardened Pharaoh’s heart for His own glory. While this seems to eliminate free will, Spoon makes it clear that this is not a debate of predestination versus free will but an acknowledgment that both exist in tension. From God's eternal perspective, He knows and directs. From man’s earthly view, we make real choices. Spoon reminds us that God doesn't need permission to execute His plan—He can even use resistant hearts to fulfill His purposes. Pharaoh's story serves as a warning and a wonder: God will be glorified either through us—or in spite of us.

3. Sit Down, Sparky: God Doesn’t Need Your Counsel
Spoon humorously but pointedly dismantles the arrogance of questioning God's justice. Echoing Paul’s rhetorical response in Romans 9:20—“Who are you, O man, to talk back to God?”—he calls out the pride that demands explanations from the Creator. “Sit down, Sparky,” Spoon quips, reminding listeners that we are not God’s advisors. Just as God asked Job, “Where were you when I laid the foundation of the earth?”, Spoon echoes the call to humility. God's justice is perfect, even if we don't understand it. And that’s okay. He’s not obligated to make His reasoning fit within our limited framework.

4. Embraced by Eternal Mercy
In closing, Spoon turns the theological depth of Romans 9 into personal encouragement. If you belong to Jesus, it’s not just because you made a wise choice—it’s because God chose to include you in His eternal plan. That truth should produce awe, not argument. “God loves you so much,” Spoon says, “He won’t let you go.” The doctrine of election isn’t meant to spark elitism—it’s meant to spark gratitude. We may not understand all of God’s ways, but we can rest in this: He wants to spend forever with us. And nothing can snatch us from His hand.