Romans Chapter 9

Here in Romans chapters 9-11 Paul gives grace believers their first lesson in how to “rightly divide the word of truth”. Although the word “dispensation” itself is not found in these three chapters, based on what Paul has proclaimed in chapters 1-8: that he has a new gospel to proclaim; that Jews and Gentiles are now on equal footing before God; that salvation is available to all based on the work of Christ on the Cross; that a grace believer is not under the works of the law; and that God is working with people today based on His “free grace”, not a Covenant---it is obvious to all that God has initiated a new dispensation that is at odds with what God had been doing in and through the nation of Israel for centuries. So the next logical question is---WHAT HAS HAPPENED TO ISRAEL? What has happened to her special covenant relationship with God? Has God now “cast away His people which He foreknew” (Rom. 11: 2)?  Keep in mind that the purpose of the book of Romans is to “stabilize” believers in grace truth. Perhaps nothing does this like a good understanding of God’s progressive work with men and nations over time---dispensations.

Rather than the world learning about God’s dispensational workings with mankind over time, these three chapters are the fertile ground for three doctrinal errors that have plagued “Christians” for centuries: 1. Covenant theology. (Rom. 9:4) 2. The church the body of Christ is spiritual Israel… That the blessing of Abraham might come on the Gentiles through Jesus Christ; that we might receive the promise of the Spirit through faith. (Ga. 3:14) (Rom. 9:5-7) 3. Calvinism (predestination and election) (Rom. 11:5).

Vs. 1-3…I say the truth in Christ; I lie not, my conscience also bearing me witness in the Holy Ghost. That I have great heaviness and continual sorrow in my heart. For I could wish that myself were accursed from Christ for my brethren, my kinsmen according to the flesh.

“I say the truth in Christ; I lie not”… Because of the “grace truths” the Lord Jesus had been teaching Paul and he in turn had been announcing to the world, there was reason for a skeptical world to believe that Paul was another in a long line of weird religious teachers trying to get a following. When Paul used words like “new creature” (II Cor. 5:17); “the preaching of Jesus Christ according to the revelation of the mystery” (Rom. 16:25); and “the total forgiveness of sins already accomplished and extended to the world of sinners by the death of Christ at Calvary” (II Cor. 5:18-19), Paul had to assure them he was not making this stuff up.  The most powerful thing on earth is a lie. Satan tried one ofn Eve with predictable results. Jesus called Satan the “father of lies” (John 8:44). Therefore it was necessary for Paul to constantly affirm that he was not a liar…2Cor 11:31… The God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, which is blessed for evermore, knoweth that I lie not. Gal 1:20… Now the things which I write unto you, behold, before God, I lie not. 1Tim 2:7… Whereunto I am ordained a preacher, and an apostle, (I speak the truth in Christ, and lie not;) a teacher of the Gentiles in faith and verity. To a world of lost sinners, the ministry of reconciliation is a lie. For the preaching of the cross is to them that perish foolishness; but unto us which are saved it is the power of God. (I Cor. 1:18)

“For I could wish that myself were accursed from Christ for my brethren, my kinsmen according to the flesh”…Obviously something very bad had happened to the nation of Israel for Paul to make such a statement. As Paul received this “progressive revelation” it caused him great heaviness and continual sorrow. Israel had been the recipient of God’s special revelation and His divine intervention in their lives. He had long foretold them of the Kingdom that was coming to Earth and the role they would play in that “heaven on earth”.  Jesus and His Twelve had announced to the Nation that “the kingdom was at hand”; Peter announced on the Day of Pentecost that “Israel was in the last days”… But this is that which was spoken by the prophet Joel; [17] And it shall come to pass in the last days, saith God,I will pour out of my Spirit upon all flesh: and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, and your young men shall see visions, and your old men shall dream dreams:  (Acts 2:16-17). How did the religious leaders of Israel respond? They rejected the preaching and threatened to put in prison or kill anyone who proclaimed such heresy. Israel had lived in unbelief throughout its long history. Paul had been a part of that unbelief until confronted by Christ Himself on the road to Damascus (Acts 9). This blessed confrontation by the Lord Himself to Paul described by Paul as “one born out of due time” (I Cor. 15:8). I believe Paul was alluding to the time in Israel’s future dispensation of the Kingdom here on earth when every Jewish man, woman and child will see and know the Lord thanks to the New Covenant He will enter into with them… Behold, the days come, saith the LORD, that I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel, and with the house of Judah: [32] Not according to the covenant that I made with their fathers in the day that I took them by the hand to bring them out of the land of Egypt; which my covenant they brake, although I was an husband unto them, saith the LORD: [33] But this shall be the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel; After those days, saith the LORD, I will put my law in their inward parts, and write it in their hearts; and will be their God, and they shall be my people. [34] And they shall teach no more every man his neighbour, and every man his brother, saying, Know the LORD: for they shall all know me, from the least of them unto the greatest of them, saith the LORD; for I will forgive their iniquity, and I will remember their sin no more. Paul got a foretaste of God’s grace to the Nation of Israel on the Damascus Road and therefore he was “as one born out of due time”. As a result, Paul became the “DUE TIME TESTIFIER”… Who gave himself a ransom for all, to be testified in due time.  (I Tim. 2:6). Not only did Israel reject the Gospel of the Kingdom of heaven and the Gospel of God as proclaimed by the Lord and His Disciples, they also became enemies of the Gospel of Christ as proclaimed by Paul--- Acts 13:45, 18:6, Rom 11:28. Brethren, be followers together of me, and mark them which walk so as ye have us for an ensample. [18] (For many walk, of whom I have told you often, and now tell you even weeping, that they are the enemies of the cross of Christ: (Phil 3:17-18).   

There was another reason Paul had great heaviness and continual sorrow. It was because Christ rejecting Jews did everything in their power to terminate the ministry of Paul. Those trials and tribulations suffered by Paul was a powerful testimony to the nation of Israel that one day they too would be put through a dispensation of suffering unrivaled in history unleashed by Satan himself… Now thanks be unto God, which always causeth us to triumph in Christ, and maketh manifest the savour of his knowledge by us in every place. For we are unto God a sweet savour of Christ, in them that are saved, and in them that perish: [16] To the one we are the savour  (smell or odor) of death unto death; and to the other the savour of life unto life. And who is sufficient for these things? [17] For we are not as many, which corrupt the word of God: but as of sincerity, but as of God, in the sight of God speak we in Christ.  (II Cor. 2: 14-17)

The problem in every dispensation is a lack of faith in what God has clearly said and is doing. Failure to take God at His word is at the root of man’s troubles here on earth. In chapters 9-11 Paul is going to answer three questions: What happened to Israel? Why did it happen? and is God forever done with Israel? Why would Paul take this subject up at this point in the book of Romans? Well, he has announced the introduction of a new dispensation in chapters 1-8. If God has initiated a new dispensation, what did He do with the program He had initiated with Israel? Did God just arbitrarily terminate all His promises to Israel and hope we would not ask any questions? No! He is explaining that God has put Israel’s program temporarily on hold. In Romans chapter 9 Paul recounts that God put Israel’s program on hold periodically for a purpose. Similarly, God has once again put the program of Israel on hold for a purpose---to form the “new creature”, the church the body of Christ.

Vs. 4… Who are Israelites; to whom pertaineth the adoption, and the glory, and the covenants, and the giving of the law, and the service of God, and the promises;

“to whom pertaineth the adoption”…a future dispensation (Kingdom on earth) when God places the nation of Israel under the New Covenant and publically and officially puts them on display as His full grown sons. Under the Law Covenant Israel was referred to as “children” and God placed them under governors and tutors. God talks about taking Israel “by the hand” which is what a responsible parent does with his children for their safety… Not according to the covenant that I made with their fathers in the day that I took them by the hand to bring them out of the land of Egypt; which my covenant they brake, although I was an husband unto them, saith the LORD: (Jer. 31:32)

“and the covenants”…God has made several covenants with the nation of Israel---Abrahamic… And I will make my covenant between me and thee, and will multiply thee exceedingly. (Gen. 17:1-13); Davidic… Howbeit the LORD would not destroy the house of David, because of the covenant that he had made with David, and as he promised to give a light to him and to his sons for ever. (II Chron. 21:7), Mosaic… And the LORD said unto Moses, Write thou these words: for after the tenor of these words I have made a covenant with thee and with Israel. (Ex. 34:27-28); and New Covenant… Behold, the days come, saith the LORD, that I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel, and with the house of Judah: (Jer. 31:31)

“the service of God, and the promises”…God only created two places “in the beginning”---heaven and earth. God’s rule on earth has been assigned to the nation of Israel…And Moses went up unto God, and the LORD called unto him out of the mountain, saying, Thus shalt thou say to the house of Jacob, and tell the children of Israel; [4] Ye have seen what I did unto the Egyptians, and how I bare you on eagles' wings, and brought you unto myself. [5] Now therefore, if ye will obey my voice indeed, and keep my covenant, then ye shall be a peculiar treasure unto me above all people: for all the earth is mine: [6] And ye shall be unto me a kingdom of priests, and an holy nation. These are the words which thou shalt speak unto the children of Israel. (Ex. 19:1-6)

Vs. 6… Not as though the word of God hath taken none effect. For they are not all Israel, which are of Israel:

“Not as though the word of God hath taken none effect”…Israel was at the “at hand” days of the Kingdom during Paul’s lifetime. Yet they rejected Christ’s offer and the Kingdom was put on hold. Paul will attempt in chapter 9 to explain the reason why God chose to do so. Paul answers the question by posing three questions that have an obvious answer---Is the reason that God’s Word has failed? No! Is it because God is unrighteous? (vs. 14) God forbid! The answer is found in vs. 30… What shall we say then? That the Gentiles, which followed not after righteousness, have attained to righteousness, even the righteousness which is of faith. God is doing something among the Gentiles.

Now this would be a good time to remember that context is king. The context of Romans 9 is that God had made promises to Israel and they have not been fulfilled. Why not? This has nothing to do with Calvinism, reformed doctrine or election. The context is what happened to Israel when they were at the very point of entering into the “last days” when the Kingdom would be set up in Israel.

Vs. 6-8…For they are not all Israel, which are of Israel: Neither, because they are the seed of Abraham, are they all children: but, In Isaac shall thy seed be called. That is, They which are the children of the flesh, these are not the children of God: but the children of the promise are counted for the seed. Paul is demonstrating that God’s Word had not failed in that it had accomplished the seed line of a true Israelite. Just being a physical descendant of Abraham does not make one a true Israelite. Jesus confirmed this in John 8… “I know that ye are Abraham's seed; but ye seek to kill me, because my word hath no place in you. [38] I speak that which I have seen with my Father: and ye do that which ye have seen with your father… Ye are of your father the devil,”  Not every Israelite was going into the “Kingdom”; only the true believing Israelites are going to be allowed into Christ’s Kingdom. So Paul begins by defining who a true Israelite is.

Vs. 9… For this is the word of promise, At this time will I come, and Sara shall have a son. Why bring up the birth of Isaac at this point in the discussion? It is because Isaac’s birth was miraculous---both parents were well past the time of child bearing (99 and 90 yrs. old) . Yet God had promised a son to Abraham and Sarah (not Abraham and Hagar). The promise of God was fulfilled at “the point in time” when Abraham and Sarah were asking God, “Has the word of God taken none effect?” Because God waited until the time when Abraham and Sarah were dead sexually He proved that He doesn’t need our flesh to accomplish His purposes.

Vs. 10-12… And not only this; but when Rebecca also had conceived by one, even by our father Isaac; (For the children being not yet born, neither having done any good or evil, that the purpose of God according to election might stand, not of works, but of him that calleth;) It was said unto her, The elder shall serve the younger.

Paul draws upon the birth of Jacob and Esau to demonstrate that God had a purpose according to election to use the nation of Israel as a favored nation to bring the blessings of Abraham on the Gentiles (nations). This has absolutely nothing to do with God electing for one boy (Jacob) to go to heaven and the other (Esau) to hell before they were born…And the LORD said unto her, Two nations are in thy womb, and two manner of people shall be separated from thy bowels; and the one people shall be stronger than the other people; and the elder shall serve the younger. (Gen. 25:23) Therefore, Ishmael and Esau could be saved---if they blessed their brother Jacob. To “bless” is to embrace the promises of God made to Abraham and the God of Abraham. In so doing, they would be receiving by faith God’s election (calling) and thereby “obeying the gospel” to them… But they have not all obeyed the gospel. For Esaias saith, Lord, who hath believed our report? [17] So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God. (Romans 10:16-17) 

What did happen before they were born was God had made a Covenant with their grandfather, Abraham, to make of him a great nation among the nations. This elect plan and purpose of God included blessings to both of the twins and their descendants in spite of their sinful natures and bad choices.

Malachi 1:1-3 also highlights the fact that Jacob and Esau were brothers and both were recipients of God’s gracious provisions. God’s elect purpose before the twins were born and not according to their works was for Esau to serve Jacob. That is all God said at the twins birth to Rebecca. Esau refused to “obey the gospel” by faith and it resulted in God saying hundreds of years later… The burden of the word of the LORD to Israel by Malachi.[2] I have loved you, saith the LORD. Yet ye say, Wherein hast thou loved us? Was not Esau Jacob's brother? saith the LORD: yet I loved Jacob, [3] And I hated Esau, and laid his mountains and his heritage waste for the dragons of the wilderness. Esau had no excuse for not obeying “the gospel” and thus earned God’s hatred.

Vs. 13-14…As it is written, Jacob have I loved, but Esau have I hated. [14] What shall we say then? Is there unrighteousness with God? God forbid.

So why and when did God say He loved Jacob and hated Esau? Obadiah 1:10-11 tells us WHY God hated Esau… For thy violence against thy brother Jacob shame shall cover thee, and thou shalt be cut off for ever. [11] In the day that thou stoodest on the other side, in the day that the strangers carried away captive his forces, and foreigners entered into his gates, and cast lots upon Jerusalem, even thou wast as one of them.  Esau and his descendants fought against Jacob and his descendants and thereby displayed their rejection of God’s elect plan. This failure to take God at His word by faith resulted in God “hating Esau”. God elected to use “one nation” (Jacob who was renamed Israel by God) to bless the remaining nations of the earth.

When did God say He hated Esau? Malachi was written hundreds of years after the death of Esau---not before his birth.  Malachi reminds us that Jacob and Esau were both Israelites (same parents) but a true Israelite means you are only a descendant of Abraham but that you must exercise faith in God’s word---Jacob did, Esau didn’t. So anyone who cursed God’s elect seed line would be cursed by God---even if you were Jacob’s brother. This real life situation turned out just like God said it would when He spoke to Abraham in Gen. 12:3…I will bless them that bless thee and curse him that curseth thee.  

These verses certainly prove that God is true to His Word in the Old Testament. He wants them to understand that we can now trust Him to keep His Word in this dispensation. Paul is giving us the big picture of the Bible and God’s work---the Word of God has not failed (vs. 6).

In Romans chapter 9 Paul discusses Israel’s past; in chapter 10 Israel’s Present; and in chapter 11 Israel’s future.

In chapter 9 of Romans Paul is answering the question, “What happened to the nation of Israel in view of God’s “everlasting covenant” with Abraham and the announcement by the Lord Jesus Himself to the nation of Israel that the Kingdom of Heaven is at hand”? Is God done with Israel? Is the “church” Israel? Paul had been traveling around the Roman Empire announcing that he is the Apostle to the Gentiles; that God was forming a “new creature”; and that God was ushering in a new dispensation of grace. In light of all these unprophesied changes in God’s program people were confused and were asking what was going on? Paul wants to tell both Jews and Gentiles WHY Israel has not got their promised kingdom in spite of the fact that as late as Acts 2 Peter announced to the Nation on the Day of Pentecost that the “Last Days” had arrived. Paul wants them to know that in spite of appearances God’s word had not failed (vs. 6). So how did Paul respond to these questions? He pointed to Israel’s past to explain. According to Rom. 9:6, the very fact that there was a “believing remnant” in Israel was proof positive that God’s word had not failed… Even so then at this present time also there is a remnant according to the election of grace…What then? Israel hath not obtained that which he seeketh for; but the election hath obtained it, and the rest were blinded.  (Rom. 11:5 & 7) Paul also discusses the events surrounding the lives of Jacob and Esau in verses 7-13 to bolster his point that to be a true Israelite one had to be a descendant of Abraham and have faith in the promises of God---Jacob did but Esau did not.  

Verses 14-22 is not about individual salvation and destiny beyond the grave. Paul has already spent five chapters in Romans explaining reconciliation and justification and three chapters explaining our sanctification. Now our edification requires that we be established in dispensational truth. Paul is going to help us make sense out of what God has been up to in the last 6,000 years.  

Vs. 14… What shall we say then? Is there unrighteousness with God? God forbid.

John Calvin was wrong when he read into these verses that eternal salvation or eternal destruction of individuals was totally the election of God. If that were true then we could truthfully answer, “Yes there is unrighteousness with God”. However, Paul will use these verses to prove that there is no unrighteousness with God as He works among the nations according to His plans and purposes. There is a two part answer to this question: Part one is found in vs. 15… For he saith to Moses, I will have mercy on whom I will have mercy, and I will have compassion on whom I will have compassion. God will have mercy.

Part two is in vs. 17… For the scripture saith unto Pharaoh, Even for this same purpose have I raised thee up, that I might shew my power in thee, and that my name might be declared throughout all the earth. God had a purpose. 

There is something about MERCY and PURPOSE that Paul wants us to consider. He is quoting from two Old Testament passages: Exodus 33:19 (vs. 15) and Exodus 9:16 (vs. 17). Keep in mind in context Paul is explaining why there is not “unrighteousness” with God by choosing not to usher Israel into the Kingdom at that time. He is going to compare what happened to Israel in the book of Exodus to what happened to Israel in Acts 2.  

God announced to the nation of Israel through Moses…And Moses went up unto God, and the LORD called unto him out of the mountain, saying, Thus shalt thou say to the house of Jacob, and tell the children of Israel; [4] Ye have seen what I did unto the Egyptians, and how I bare you on eagles' wings, and brought you unto myself. [5] Now therefore, if ye will obey my voice indeed, and keep my covenant, then ye shall be a peculiar treasure unto me above all people: for all the earth is mine: [6] And ye shall be unto me a kingdom of priests, and an holy nation. These are the words which thou shalt speak unto the children of Israel. (Ex. 19:3-6) Later on God told Moses that he was to build a “sanctuary” so He could dwell among the people… And let them make me a sanctuary; that I may dwell among them. [9] According to all that I shew thee, after the pattern of the tabernacle, and the pattern of all the instruments thereof, even so shall ye make it. (Ex. 25:8-9).

It wasn’t long before the Nation rebelled against God to such an extent that He disowned them… And when the people saw that Moses delayed to come down out of the mount, the people gathered themselves together unto Aaron, and said unto him, Up, make us gods, which shall go before us; for as for this Moses, the man that brought us up out of the land of Egypt, we wot not what is become of him. [2] And Aaron said unto them, Break off the golden earrings, which are in the ears of your wives, of your sons, and of your daughters, and bring them unto me. [3] And all the people brake off the golden earrings which were in their ears, and brought them unto Aaron. [4] And he received them at their hand, and fashioned it with a graving tool, after he had made it a molten calf: and they said, These be thy gods, O Israel, which brought thee up out of the land of Egypt. [5] And when Aaron saw it, he built an altar before it; and Aaron made proclamation, and said, To morrow is a feast to the LORD. [6] And they rose up early on the morrow, and offered burnt offerings, and brought peace offerings; and the people sat down to eat and to drink, and rose up to play. [7] And the LORD said unto Moses, Go, get thee down; for thy people, which thou broughtest out of the land of Egypt, have corrupted themselves: [8] They have turned aside quickly out of the way which I commanded them: they have made them a molten calf, and have worshipped it, and have sacrificed thereunto, and said, These be thy gods, O Israel, which have brought thee up out of the land of Egypt. [9] And the LORD said unto Moses, I have seen this people, and, behold, it is a stiffnecked people: (Ex. 32:1-9) This is the first time that this phrase (stiffnecked) appears in the Bible. The last time it is mentioned is in Acts 7:51 when Stephen called the leaders of Israel a “stiffnecked people”. Aaron, the High Priest of Israel, led the nation astray while claiming to be worshipping Jehovah. Therefore, Israel forfeited their right to be the “special treasure” unto the Lord. If God would have destroyed them all as He threatened to do, He could have still been righteous in keeping His promise by building the nation from Moses’ descendents since Moses was of the godly seed of Abraham and he had faith. Israel was in a difficult situation at this point in their history. They were deserving of God’s wrath and God was willing to pour it out on them. However, Moses besought God to “repent” (change His mind) on the basis of God’s own word---not on the basis of Israel’s goodness or badness. Moses interceded for Israel like Jesus interceded for them on the Cross. The result of that intercession by Moses is found in Ex. 33: 1-3… And the LORD said unto Moses, Depart, and go up hence, thou and the people which thou hast brought up out of the land of Egypt, unto the land which I sware unto Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob, saying, Unto thy seed will I give it: [2] And I will send an angel before thee; and I will drive out the Canaanite, the Amorite, and the Hittite, and the Perizzite, the Hivite, and the Jebusite: [3] Unto a land flowing with milk and honey: for I will not go up in the midst of thee; for thou art a stiffnecked people: lest I consume thee in the way. Such was the broken relationship with God and Israel that God instructed Moses to set the Tabernacle outside of the “camp”… And Moses took the tabernacle, and pitched it without the camp, afar off from the camp, and called it the Tabernacle of the congregation. And it came to pass, that every one which sought the LORD went out unto the tabernacle of the congregation, which was without the camp. (Ex. 33:7) Moses then asks God to show him what He is doing… Now therefore, I pray thee, if I have found grace in thy sight, shew me now thy way, that I may know thee, that I may find grace in thy sight: and consider that this nation is thy people. (Ex. 33:13) Moses is not sure what God is going to do with regard to the Nation, so he continues to question God… And he said, My presence shall go with thee, and I will give thee rest. [15] And he said unto him, If thy presence go not with me, carry us not up hence. [16] For wherein shall it be known here that I and thy people have found grace in thy sight? is it not in that thou goest with us? so shall we be separated, I and thy people, from all the people that are upon the face of the earth. [17] And the LORD said unto Moses, I will do this thing also that thou hast spoken: for thou hast found grace in my sight, and I know thee by name. [18] And he said, I beseech thee, shew me thy glory. [19] And he said, I will make all my goodness pass before thee, and I will proclaim the name of the LORD before thee; and will be gracious to whom I will be gracious, and will shew mercy on whom I will shew mercy. (Ex. 33:14-19) In Acts 2 Israel is in the same predicament that their forefathers were in. Israel of old had forfeited their right to be “a kingdom of priests” to the Lord. In Paul’s day Israel was in the “Last Days” and ready to enter the Kingdom. But because they committed the “unpardonable sin” by rejecting the work of the Holy Spirit in their midst God and deserved the wrath of God. However, God extended MERCY on PURPOSE and elected to invite Jew and Gentile into His program of grace. God extended mercy to the generation of Israelites in Moses’ day for the purpose of bringing the next generation into the land of Canaan. It was not unrighteous for God to do this… What if God, willing to shew his wrath, and to make his power known, endured with much longsuffering the vessels of wrath fitted to destruction: [23] And that he might make known the riches of his glory on the vessels of mercy, which he had afore prepared unto glory, [24] Even us, whom he hath called, not of the Jews only, but also of the Gentiles? (Rom. 9:22-24) Who are these “vessels of mercy”---the church, the body of Christ. Who would argue that it was unrighteous for God to extend mercy to Israel of old? Then how could God be unrighteous by extending His mercy in Paul’s day to both Jew and Gentile?   

Vs. 17-18… For the scripture saith unto Pharaoh, Even for this same purpose have I raised thee up, that I might shew my power in thee, and that my name might be declared throughout all the earth.  [18] Therefore hath he mercy on whom he will have mercy, and whom he will he hardeneth. [19] Thou wilt say then unto me, Why doth he yet find fault? For who hath resisted his will?

God had announced to Abraham that after the 4^th generation a man (Moses) would lead Israel out of Egypt. So how does God “call” Moses? By speaking from a burning bush that is not consumed. That is a good picture of Israel---it was to be a light to the Gentiles without being consumed. On the other hand, Egypt is a picture of Satanic oppression (darkness). (Gen. 15:12-17) Israel is called by God to be a “Nation of miracles”. Now Moses kills an Egyptian when he is 40 years old and flees to the land of Midian. After 40 years and Egypt in his rear view mirror, God instructs Moses to go back to Egypt and confront the Pharaoh. Apparently Moses was enjoying his time and family in Midian and had long forgotten his relationship with the Nation of Israel. However, God had not forgotten His promise to Abraham, Isaac and Jacob… And God heard their groaning, and God remembered his covenant with Abraham, with Isaac, and with Jacob. [25] And God looked upon the children of Israel, and God had respect unto them. (Ex. 2:24-25)

Moses and Aaron go to the Pharoah and he makes one of the saddest statements found in the Bible… And Pharaoh said, Who is the LORD, that I should obey his voice to let Israel go? I know not the LORD, neither will I let Israel go. (Ex. 5:2) Who is the LORD and why should I obey Him? Four hundred years had come and gone but it took God some TIME in getting Pharoah to let Israel go. There was a delay and Israel was very upset with Moses and Aaron for making things worse for them rather than better. God delayed in getting Israel out of Egypt on PURPOSE. And what was the purpose? After a great battle between God and the “gods” of Egypt God says… And the LORD said unto Moses, Rise up early in the morning, and stand before Pharaoh, and say unto him, Thus saith the LORD God of the Hebrews, Let my people go, that they may serve me. [14] For I will at this time send all my plagues upon thine heart, and upon thy servants, and upon thy people; that thou mayest know that there is none like me in all the earth. For now I will stretch out my hand, that I may smite thee and thy people with pestilence; and thou shalt be cut off from the earth. [16] And in very deed for this cause have I raised thee up, for to shew in thee my power; and that my name may be declared throughout all the earth. (Ex. 9:13-16) Pharoah was the “king of the earth” (a title) at that time (NOT A SPECIFIC MAN). God announced He would take out “the god of the earth” and in the process show to all the earth (especially the land of Canaan) who created the “heaven and the earth”. While God is dealing with one empire, He is sending a message to the Canaanites what is in store for them as well… The people shall hear, and be afraid ...The dukes of Edam shall be amazed; the mighty men of Moab, trembling shall take hold upon them; all the inhabitants of Canaan shall melt away" (Ex. 15:14-15); and… "From a very far country thy servants are come because of the name of  the Lord thy God; for we have heard the fame of Him, and all that He did in Egypt” (Josh. 9:9).

So, God allowed Pharoah to have “satanic control” over His people for the purpose of answering the question “Who owns the earth”? There was a delay for a purpose. This is the same thing Paul is saying in Rom. 9---it was time for the Kingdom to come for Israel but God had another “mystery purpose”. The “mystery purpose” (also called the “eternal purpose”… According to the eternal purpose which he purposed in Christ Jesus our Lord: Eph. 3:11) preceded God’s purpose for the nation of Israel… According as he hath chosen us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before him in love: (Eph. 1:4) Compare that verse with what Jesus said to the nation of Israel… Then shall the King say unto them on his right hand, Come, ye blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world: (Matt. 25:34) God purposed to form the church, the body of Christ so that His name will be proclaimed in the “heavenly places…that is where the battle for the last 2,000 years has been raging… And hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus: (Eph. 2:6) and… To the intent that now unto the principalities and powers in heavenly places might be known by the church the manifold wisdom of God, (Eph. 3:10). It is not unrighteous for God to delay a purpose He has announced if He has a greater purpose to accomplish.

“Therefore hath he mercy on whom he will have mercy, and whom he will he hardeneth”… Eighteen times we are told that Pharaoh’s heart was ‘hardened’. In about half of these the hardening is attributed to Pharaoh himself; in the others, to God. But the whole contest between God and Pharaoh must be interpreted by what God said to Moses before he ever confronted Pharoah: “And I am sure that the king of Egypt will not let you go, no, not by a mighty hand.” (Exod. 3:19). His will was already set. His heart was already hard. God overruled Pharaoh’s will but did not override it.

Those who reason that God sent Moses and Aaron to Pharaoh to say, "Let My people go"; then whispering in Pharaoh's ear, as it were: "Don't you do it!" This would involve God in both dishonesty and injustice, for, according to this belief, God sent Moses and Aaron to say to Pharaoh, "Let My people go"; then influenced Pharaoh not to let them go, and then judged him for not letting them go! What happened to Pharoah, happened to Israel! It is not wise to trifle with God and reject His purposes.