Articles
“I Will Have Mercy on Whom I Will” Romans 9:10–16
When Mercy Feels Unfair
Ever had a sibling get away with something that landed you in trouble? They broke the lamp—you got the lecture. They skipped chores—you got grounded. And when you said, “That’s not fair,” your mom simply replied, “Life’s not fair.”
That same frustration shows up in Romans 9. Some of Paul’s fellow Jews were deeply troubled. Gentiles—outsiders—were being welcomed into God’s family through Jesus, while many Jews were rejecting Him. To them, it didn’t seem fair. Weren’t they the chosen people? Didn’t they have the promises, the law, the prophets?
Paul’s response? God’s mercy isn’t about fairness—it’s about grace. And thank God for that! Because if mercy had to be earned, none of us would have it.
Paul uses two examples to make his point:
First, he reminds us that not all physical descendants of Abraham are automatically part of God’s people. It’s not about your ancestry—it’s about your faith. Isaac was the child of promise, not Ishmael.
Then he brings up Jacob and Esau. Before either was born—before they had done anything good or bad—God chose Jacob. Why? Because God had a purpose. Not because Jacob deserved it more. In fact, Jacob had plenty of flaws. But God’s plan was unfolding, and He had every right to write the story as He chose.
That leads to the real heart of the matter: Is God unfair? Paul answers, “By no means!” God told Moses, “I will have mercy on whom I have mercy.” Mercy, by definition, isn’t owed—it’s a gift.
If you invite one friend to dinner, you’re not unfair for not inviting everyone. You’re showing kindness, not injustice. In the same way, God shows mercy freely and graciously.
But here’s the hope: God’s mercy isn’t random or cruel. In the very next chapter, Paul says, “If you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved” (Romans 10:9). That promise is for everyone—Jew or Gentile, young or old, broken or whole.
Each of us has a part in God’s plan. Jacob and Esau had different roles. So did Jeremiah, John the Baptist, and Paul. And so do you. You are God’s workmanship, created for good works He prepared in advance (Ephesians 2:10). Don’t waste time comparing. Be faithful in your role.
Finally, remember: the door of mercy is open now—but it won’t be open forever. Next week, we’ll look at Pharaoh, who hardened his heart until it was too late.
Today, God invites you to receive His mercy. He doesn’t owe it. You can’t earn it. But He offers it—freely and fully.
God may not always work the way we expect—but His plan is good, His justice is perfect, and His mercy is astonishing. Let’s not only receive it—but rejoice when others receive it too.
