The Freedom of God's Will

A theodicy is a defense of God's actions.
The claim is that God has done something wrong.
The claim is that God has done something that does not add up to good or does not add up to justice.
A theodicy is an answer to such a claim. It is a vindication of God's character. It is a demonstration, a defense, that shows that the claim is false.
Romans chapter 9 represents such a defense.
Paul raises a question (has the Word of God failed), answers the question, and then anticipates a false claim based on a true answer, and then answers that false claim with a defense of God's character.
HE DOES NOT DO THIS OUT OF ACADEMIC INTEREST. This is not just theoretical for Paul.
These are the very questions, and objections, and accusations, that Paul dealt with in his ministry.
And as I look at this theodicy, a couple of things stand out to me at the very outset. One of these I have mentioned many times before, but it bears repeating.