Is there injustice on God's part?

If we carefully study how man was created, his nature and form, and in whose image he was made, then closely look into who God is, how He came to be (which we cannot fathom), His power, holiness, wisdom, glory, and majesty - we will see ourselves for who we are - but dust.

...then the Lord God formed the man of dust from the ground and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life, and the man became a living creature (Genesis 2:7 ESV)

God formed us from dust. He made the non-existent into living beings, capable of many great things. It is a humbling realization that every fiber of who we are is a majestic masterpiece not because it was that way from the beginning but because God, the Almighty, imparted life to us. It is always because of who He is. If we don't have the bible as a reference to where we came from or what we're made of, we might conclude that it's some evolutionary or cosmic, unsolvable mystery.

This verse speaks heights of God's sovereignty - His will on how humanity came to existence, as the Potter is to the clay. As human beings, it could be difficult to understand how God, The Creator, makes divine decisions, especially on matters He has total control of, where we get to be mere spectators of what's to unfold. At times, we forget to position ourselves fittingly before our Holy God. When this happens we may persist on what we want or what we think we deserve failing to consider His justice and perfect wisdom. If we gauge fairness based only on the circumstances we see and understand it may be that when we have a different picture of what justice should look like, we fall into danger of viewing God as biased.

God of mercy and justice

What shall we say then? Is there injustice on God’s part? By no means! For he says to Moses, “I will have mercy on whom I have mercy, and I will have compassion on whom I have compassion.” So then it depends not on human will or exertion, but on God, who has mercy. For the Scripture says to Pharaoh, “For this very purpose I have raised you up, that I might show my power in you, and that my name might be proclaimed in all the earth.” So then he has mercy on whomever he wills, and he hardens whomever he wills (Romans 9:14-18)

In Romans 9, Paul centers on God's sovereign choice and His righteousness towards the Israelites and the Gentiles. It speaks of God's covenant to Israel and specific people (Abraham, Isaac, Jacob) He used to fulfill His promised redemption. Paul emphasized that it has nothing to do with their achievements but with His will and purpose. We can absolutely ask mercy from God but we have to trust His wisdom on how things would turn out. We cannot say God is unjust because we think He denied someone mercy. God is both merciful and just. His ruling is based on His Sovereign judgment to fulfill His purpose laid out since the foundation of the earth. It may be discouraging to hear that God hardens the heart like He did to Pharaoh, but only He can see our intents, motivations, and pureness of heart. Only He can see the future, whether or not a person will eventually accept His Kingship and those who will continually reject His mercy. His ways may not seem just from our point of view but it always is to show His power and glory.

God of patience and purpose

You will say to me then, “Why does he still find fault? For who can resist his will?” But who are you, O man, to answer back to God? Will what is molded say to its molder, “Why have you made me like this?” Has the potter no right over the clay, to make out of the same lump one vessel for honorable use and another for dishonorable use? What if God, desiring to show his wrath and to make known his power, has endured with much patience vessels of wrath prepared for destruction, in order to make known the riches of his glory for vessels of mercy, which he has prepared beforehand for glory—  even us whom he has called, not from the Jews only but also from the Gentiles? (Romans 9:19-24)

Understanding God is knowing His glory that is present even before all came into form - that glory cannot be hidden and intended to be known to all. Paul used the clay as an example to demonstrate how God fulfills His design for each creation. We won't always understand why we are made with the set of strengths and weaknesses innate to us but we know that both can be used to glorify God. We don't always have answers to why sufferings are experienced even by those who follow God, but we can trust His plans for the molding of our faith, our testimony, and ultimately for His glory. Sometimes we ask for mercy and see justice at work, for sin has consequences (Gal 6:7, Rom 6:23, Col 3:25) which can eventually bring people to repentance and salvation. At times, we seek justice and God delivers mercy, teaching us forgiveness and grace.

We may never fully understand God's reason and purpose but it should not discourage us. He is altogether loving, kind, patient, holy, just, and merciful, among other wonderful attributes He has. And who are we? We are from dust, whom God created, sheltered, and nurtured. We have fallen into sin which separated us from Him. But in His mercy and fairness sent Jesus, His only Son, to pay the justice due for our sins so we can receive His mercy which grants us eternal life.

Come to Jesus and experience God's mercy.

Prayer

Heavenly Father, You are Holy, Righteous, Almighty, nothing in this world deserves the highest praise but You. You are the Potter, I am the clay. Make me as You will to bring glory and honor to Your Name. Take any doubt and fear in my heart and help me trust Your perfect purpose for my life. Thank You for Your patience with me. I ask for mercy for the wrongs I have committed against You. I pray to have the same grace and mercy to others who have hurt me. Thank You for sending Jesus who willingly received the punishment of my sins so I can receive Your mercy. In His Name I pray, Amen.

In grace & mercy