Question: My husband and I were reading Romans 9. In v22, it speaks of some being created for destruction. Is this non-Christians or Pharaoh or Judas, etc who God puts in those positions to bring glory through their wickedness?
In order to answer this question properly we need to delve into the argument that Paul is mounting in Romans 9. Paul begins by expressing his deep anguish that many Jews have turned their backs on Jesus Christ. But this does not mean Israel has no place or that God has been unfaithful in anyway. To be a Jew does not automatically make you part of the people of God. He uses the example of Esau and Jacob, 'Jacob I loved, but Esau I hated' (v13). The call of God was never because of something we had done but his sovereign choice before the creation of the world. God will show mercy on whom he wishes in order that there will never be a reason for us to boast and no human will or effort will ever thwart or distract from his purposes. But if this is true, how can humans be blamed for anything? It is the context of this question that v20-23 fall.
Here is Rom 9:20-23 (from the ESV) in case you don't have it handy.
But who are you, O man, to answer back to God? Will what is molded say to its molder, "Why have you made me like this?" 21 Has the potter no right over the clay, to make out of the same lump one vessel for honored use and another for dishonorable use? 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-
But who are you, O man, to answer back to God? Will what is molded say to its molder, "Why have you made me like this?" 21 Has the potter no right over the clay, to make out of the same lump one vessel for honored use and another for dishonorable use? 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-
Paul tells us quite clearly that human beings have no right to question the sovereignty of God. Like the potter has authority over the clay so to God has authority over us. Indeed God has even ordained some to be vessels of destruction so that his glory may be made known. So, is this all non-Christians? Or just a select few?
A couple of things to note about the 'vessels of destruction'. Firstly, he has endured them with much patience. Secondly, unless you believe in annihilationism (which I don't) then the destruction of here is about 'eternal exclusion'. God doesn't make something just to destroy it. And, thirdly, God prepares them for destruction (it is a passive verb) they don't prepare themselves. In light of this I think these vessels of wrath are the unresponsive Jews.
But it is also true to say that Paul is picking up on v17
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.
Yes, it is Pharaoh, it is Judas and it is the unresponsiveness of the Jews and their may be some non-Christians who particularly fit this case. But in all of this we need to remember it is God's sovereign choice and we are nothing but clay.
That he chooses some at all shows his mercy and his love.
