Paul continues his communication to the Israelites here. They were God’s chosen people, yet still rejected Jesus. The calling on Paul’s heart truly is for their salvation. He understands that God’s covenant with Abraham applies to all spiritual descendants, not just bloodline. Divine adoption is a powerful thing. It proves that God’s discernment is always the final say. His mercy has always chased after His own creation – Jew and Gentile through grace, not based on bloodline or human efforts. The mercy offered to us is forever undeserved. We are born sinners, the punishment for sin is death. We are incapable of living a life that could satisfy the law. Our striving efforts are in vain, if our heart isn’t heart fully yielded to God. Salvation is strictly dependent on God’s mercy for His creation. What glorious news!
There is an illustration given of the potter and his clay. Imagine the craftsmanship that goes into each piece of wetness. A blob of goo, carefully chosen my the potter. As he works with it and brings it to life. The potter determines the shape, size, depth, details and functionality of each piece before it is presented for use. Some of these might be everyday work pieces, used to bring water back and forth for animals and home, or a dinner plate to take in nourishment that God has blessed you with. Some pieces may be more ornamental and used for display purposes, to serve and be seen at the appointed time. Who is the clay to say to the potter “why did you make me this way?” We are to assume the posture of the clay piece, whatever it is, with thankfulness for the thought and creativity that went into every detail of our being.
God’s mercy chases us all. Paul even references back to Hosea where we see the similarity to when God called out Israel – they will be called His people. Those once rejected will be welcomed into the family of God. God has a chosen remnant, those that will not be abolished like Sodom and Gomorrah. Redemptive grace extends to all, Jew and Gentile alike. But it requires true faith in God and the actions that Christ took on the cross. Israel continued to pursue righteousness by works, the belief that Jesus’ death on the cross was enough for their salvation became their stumbling stone. It’s here that we see Jesus’ death is received one of two ways: either as an offense to the prideful or as salvation to the humble.