This lightning rod text is the Lord’s own defense of His sovereign electing grace and rejecting justice. The question is posed, “What shall we say then? Is there unrighteousness with God” (Rom 9:14)? This proposed question is a preemptive strike against proud humanity’s attack on God’s holy character. The Lord answers the question as only the God of all creation would answer, “I will have mercy on whomever I will have mercy, and I will have compassion on whomever I will have compassion” (Rom 9:15). His choice is beyond our imperfect scrutiny, for it is according His perfect will, not the fallen will and tainted deeds of man; “it is not of him who wills, nor of him who runs, but of God who shows mercy” (Rom 9:16).
