Day 116 — The Way Forward — Not Willing That Any Should Perish

“The Lord is not slow to fulfill his promise as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing that any should perish, but that all should reach repentance.” -- 2 Peter 3:9 (ESV)

Romans 9 is one of those passages that humbles us. It stretches our understanding, challenges our theology, and reminds us that God is far greater than our ability to fully explain Him. Yet, even in its depth and difficulty, there is a clear thread that runs through this chapter—a thread of God’s sovereignty, His righteousness, and His mercy.

Paul begins not with cold doctrine, but with a broken heart. He writes, “I have great sorrow and unceasing anguish in my heart” (Romans 9:2, ESV). His concern is for Israel, his own people, who had largely rejected the Messiah. Paul even says he would be willing to be “accursed and cut off from Christ” (Romans 9:3, ESV) if it meant their salvation. That kind of love reflects the heart of Christ Himself.

This reminds us that theology should never be detached from compassion. Understanding God’s ways should lead us to love people more deeply, not argue more aggressively. As Charles Spurgeon once said, divine sovereignty and human responsibility are not enemies—they are friends. We may not fully reconcile them in our minds, but we see them clearly in Scripture.

Paul clarifies that God’s Word has not failed: “For not all who are descended from Israel belong to Israel” (Romans 9:6, ESV). In other words, being part of God’s family has never been about physical lineage alone—it has always been about faith. He continues, “It is not the children of the flesh who are the children of God, but the children of the promise are counted as offspring” (Romans 9:8, ESV). This is crucial. Salvation has always been rooted in God’s promise and received through faith. Even in the Old Testament, it was never merely about heritage or works—it was about trusting in God.

Paul then addresses the tension: Is God unfair in choosing some and not others? His answer is clear--“By no means!” (Romans 9:14, ESV). God is perfectly just, perfectly righteous, and perfectly good. He says to Moses, “I will have mercy on whom I have mercy” (Romans 9:15, ESV). God’s mercy is not something we earn; it is something He freely gives.

At the same time, Scripture consistently teaches human responsibility. Paul later writes, “Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved” (Romans 10:13, ESV). And Peter affirms that God is “not wishing that any should perish” (2 Peter 3:9, ESV). These truths stand side by side.

So how do we hold them together? We trust the character of God.

The illustration of the potter and the clay in Romans 9 reminds us that God is the Creator, and we are the creation. “Has the potter no right over the clay?” (Romans 9:21, ESV). The answer is yes—He does. But we must also remember what kind of Potter He is. He is not harsh or careless; He is patient, loving, and merciful.

As Jeremiah 18 shows, the potter works with the clay as it is. The clay’s condition matters. There is a responsiveness, a yielding, a surrender that shapes the outcome. In that sense, while God is sovereign, we are not robots. We respond. We believe. We trust.

Paul brings it all together at the end of the chapter: “Gentiles who did not pursue righteousness have attained it… that is, a righteousness that is by faith” (Romans 9:30, ESV). Meanwhile, Israel pursued righteousness through the law but failed. Why? “Because they did not pursue it by faith, but as if it were based on works” (Romans 9:32, ESV). That is the dividing line—faith versus works.

Jesus is described as the “stone of stumbling” and the “rock of offense” (Romans 9:33, ESV). For those who try to earn their way to God, He becomes a stumbling block. But for those who believe, He becomes the foundation of life. This is where it becomes deeply personal. Every one of us must answer the same question: Will I trust in my own efforts, or will I trust in Christ alone?

The truth is, we all deserve judgment. Scripture says, “All have sinned and fall short of the glory of God” (Romans 3:23, ESV). If God were only just, none of us would stand. But God is also merciful. He sent His Son, Jesus Christ, to take our place on the cross, to bear our sin, and to offer us righteousness by faith. That is the Gospel.

And this is where Romans 9 leads us—not into endless debate, but into urgent mission.
If God is not willing that any should perish, then neither should we be. If His heart is patient and merciful, then our lives should reflect that same urgency to pray, to care, and to share.

We don’t know who will respond. We don’t control the outcome. But we are called to be faithful. As Augustine said, we pray as though it all depends on God, and we work as though it all depends on us.

So today, let this passage move you beyond argument into action. Pray for those who don’t know Christ. Care for people intentionally. Share the Gospel as the Holy Spirit leads.

Because Jesus is either the stone we stumble over—or the Rock we stand upon.
And God, in His mercy, is still calling people to Himself.

Prayer:
Father, we come before You humbled by Your Word and Your ways. You are sovereign, righteous, and full of mercy. Thank You for the gift of salvation through Jesus Christ, not by works, but by grace through faith. Lord, give us hearts like Paul—hearts that grieve for those who do not yet know You. Help us to trust Your plan, even when we don’t fully understand it. Lead us by Your Spirit to pray, to care, and to boldly share the Gospel with those around us. Keep us from pride and self-reliance, and anchor us in Christ alone. May we build our lives on the Rock, not stumble over Him. And may many come to repentance, because You are patient and not willing that any should perish. We ask this in Jesus’ name, amen.

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