Life as God’s art.

Romans 9:14-32 has always confused me. Numerous readings have always been understood by me that there are two types of people: [1] ones prepared (assumed to be prepared by God- but strangely doesn't say so) to be objects of his wrath and [2] those prepared (this time it does state by God) for his mercy. I've always assumed that this is one of those paradox times when it seems the opposite of what it should. What I know experientially about God's character doesn't seem to line up with my previous take on these verses. Then I read them with a different perspective, maybe (just maybe) I got a little closer to the truth this time.

Maybe these are the same people. They prepared themselves or maybe this fallen state of this world (by human choice) prepared them to be objects of wrath. Then God in his great sacrificial mercy re-prepared them to now become objects of His mercy. Instead of predestined separate groups –which God could do if He wanted, they are the same. Even more so, the ones that we might think in our finite minds are the 'blessed' and those that we might think to be the 'cursed' are reversed now due to Gods plan to reach the most to spend eternity with Him. Later in chapter 9 it appears to lay this out with the Jews (initially appearing as the 'blessed') verse the Gentiles that now appear to be 'blessed'! (vs 24)

Admittedly it's all spelled out that God hardens some and who are we to question "why ?" in the immensity of His greatness. And we can't blame or judge God. But verse 18 says, "Therefore he has mercy of who He wills and whom He wills He hardens." It appears he has options, but balanced with 1 Timothy and 2 Peter He has opted for option number 1: MERCY!

• "This is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Savior, ⁴who desires all men to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth"
  (1 Tim. 2:3-4).
  
• "The Lord is not slow about His promise, as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing for any to perish but for all to come to repentance" (2 Pet. 3:9).
  

Recently a client told me about his terrible and traumatic childhood, and then asked why God would pick him to be born in this body and have this life. He recently had become saved and I suddenly got the insight from the Holy Spirit that although he now has a relationship with Jesus he does not talk to God the Father. He confirmed that he has never prayed to the Father and more so he sees Him as a sadistic god that maybe, just maybe, that mean god has decided to become nice toward him. In fact the client was banking on that god now owes him something for all that torture. I gently corrected his really bad theology with what I was feeling was God's heart toward this precious child whom He loves. That actually when that little boy was going through such horrible emotional pain that the real One True emotional God was also feeling his pain and saddened by the choices of others that put him in such harm's way. That ultimately God's preferences were that he had been raised by two selfless parents that raised him in a godly household and that they would protect him and love him. Instead they made choices that that God calls "sin" because they hurt those He loves.

How can it be any other way? I'm not trying to reframe God's work into something that I am more comfortable with. I am trying to reconcile what I know of God to what appears -at first glance- to be contradictory in his Word. Maybe "redemption" is kinda like starting with some old, worn-out, can't possibly be used for anything productive and recycling it into something beautiful! From junk to art! God is the Master Recycler!