Further Discussion into Romans 9

As I began to flip through my Bible and read through Romans 9, I noticed something strange. I pulled out one of my older Bibles that I have marked through for the past....almost decade, NOTHING in Romans 9 is underlined. Y'all, if you could see my Bible almost every other chapter in here has something underlined, highlihghted, or written to the side.

I only mention this to validate what I wrote yesterday about skipping over the parts of the Bible that I didn't like or didn't understand.

Please note as well as I go through and pull apart certain verses, that I am by no means a Bible scholar. I am years behind in wisdom of those I most look up to.

v.10-15 Not only that, but Rebekah's children had one in the same father, our father Isaac. Yet, before the twins were born or had done anything good or bad - in order that God's purpose in election might stand: not by work, but by him who calls - she was told, "The older will serve the younger." Just as it is written: "Jacob, I loved, but Essaue I hated." What shall we say? Is God unjust? Not at all! For he says to Moses, "I will have mercy on whom I have mercy and I will have compassion on whom I have compassion."

I have often talked about my "God in a box". I cannot tell y'all how much the Lord has been pulling back those layers and revealing more of who He is to me. I see it again in this passage of scripture. I think The Message translation puts what I'm thinking in clearer tearms.

v. 11 What God did in this case made it perfectly plain that His purpose is not a hit-or-miss thing dependant on what we do or don't do, but a sure thing determined by his decision, flowing steadily from his initiative.

This shows a piece in the character of God that I have decided to ignore up until now. We cannot think that God is love and will give us eveything pretty that we ask for and then ignore the wrath of the cross.God chooses whom he will bless and who he will curse. God is huge and powerful and mighty. I don't understand the sovereigness of His hand, however, I have no right to question it.

This humbles me so much because I see a glimpse of just how unworthy I am. When I was NOTHING, could do NOTHING, and knew absolutely NOTHING; the Lord chose me. Loved me. Died for me. My actions cannot make him love me any more or any less.

I seriously can't even begin to understand the weight of the truth of all of this. I am praying that God will continually change my heart and open my eyes to who He truly is.