I Have Raised You Up

“For this very purpose I have raised you up, that I may show My power in you, and that My name may be declared in all the earth.” (Romans 9:17) 

A few days ago, I was enjoying the cool of the evening (for the first time in a while it seems) in our backyard reading some Scripture. I turned to this text in Romans that I am very familiar with having spent several months preaching through this text. Yet as I read this verse, the beautiful impact of God’s inspired Word struck my soul as I saw this text once more with fresh eyes. What struck me was the absolute simplicity of life from this Holy Word.

In the context, Paul is writing about the just and true nature of a selective God. One cannot read especially the Old Testament with sincerity without noticing that God is a discriminating God who selects according to his purpose and will. He chose Abraham of all the other pagans of the day. He chose Isaac, not Ishmael, the children of Abraham simply because his promise was to both the father and mother of Isaac. Then when Isaac and his wife had children, he chose Jacob, the younger twin rather than Esau. God is a good who chooses according to his good purposes and perfect will. He is obligated to no man, yet he has self-obligated his choices to be consistent both with his own holy character and fulfillment of promises. God is only obligated to fulfill his promises because he is consistent with his attributed of truthfulness. Paul moves ahead 400 + before he even gets to the first possible objection to God’s selective nature, and addresses the issue of Moses standing before Pharaoh. Here we see a fascinating reality. God has not only chosen Moses to lead God’s people out of bondage, but he also chose Pharaoh who would resist that deliverance for two simple purposes. 1. So that God would show (display) his power (dunamis-ability) in Pharaoh. 2. So that God would declare (announce) his Name in all the earth.

God would accomplish this two-fold purpose first through the 10 plagues and decimation of Egypt while he preserved his chosen people; and secondly by liberating his people to carry this message throughout all of the land. Later in the Exodus and Joshua records we find that whenever the Hebrews encountered the pagan peoples and cities of their promised land, the people were afraid because of what God had done in Egypt.

Yet it is not only God’s purpose that he should raise up ungodly nations and leaders like Pharaoh to accomplish his purposes. But every man woman or child who is given life is created for these two purposes. First, to show God’s dynamic ability and second to be heralds (either by their own mouths or the mouths of another) of God’s Name (character, nature, and wholeness of his being). This is why life is so simple; we were created for these two purposes, which converge in the confession, “Man exits to glorify God and enjoy him forever.”

Thinking through this a little further, however caused me to consider not just life, but authority. Pharaoh was a man of authority, and it seems that the phrase, “I have raised you up” is specifically talking about Pharaoh’s prominence and authoritative position. God gave Pharaoh not only life but also an authoritative position in this life to fulfill the same two purposes. As I thought through my personal application, it occurred to me that whether one’s position of authority is that of mother, father, teacher, lay-leader, pastoral elder, councilman, mayor, governor, manager, CEO, congressman, judge, or president or king, the purpose remains the same-whether saint or sinner. God gives authority with the purposes that his power would be manifest, and that his Name would be declared. So then a few verses down, “Who are you to reply against God?” is powerfully convicting. I must not strive and yearn for authority of any kind, but when God gives it according to his perfect will, will I find myself a good and faithful servant, one who is showing God’s power and declaring God’s name?