Romans 9:14-16 - Joseph Benson’s Commentary on the Old and New Testaments

What shall we say then? To this. The apostle now introduces and refutes an objection. Is there unrighteousness, or injustice, with God? In the distribution of his providential blessings, in this or any other instance that can be produced? Was it unjust in God to choose Jacob and his posterity to be the members of his visible church on earth, and to inherit the promises in their literal meaning, rather than Esau and his posterity? Or to accept believers who imitate the faith of Jacob, and them only? God forbid In no wise: this is well consistent with justice. For he saith to Moses, &c. For he has a right to fix the terms on which he will show mercy; according to his declaration to Moses, petitioning for all the people, after they had been guilty of idolatry in worshipping the golden calf; I will have mercy on whom I will have mercy According to the terms I myself have fixed; and I will have compassion on whom I will have compassion Namely, on those only who submit to my terms; who accept of it in the way that I have appointed. So then The inference to be drawn is; It The blessing; therefore is not of him that willeth, nor of him that runneth It is not the effect either of the will or the works of man, but of the grace and power of God. The will of man is here opposed to the grace of God, and man's running, to the divine operation. And this general declaration respects not only Isaac and Jacob, and the Israelites in the time of Moses, but likewise all the spiritual children of Abraham, even to the end of the world.