God of Mercy, God of Judgment

I. He is a God of Mercy 14-16

A.  Is God unfair?  v. 14

Luther "Why, then should man complain that God acts unjustly, when this is impossible? Or could it be possible that God is not God?"

Douglas Moo: “Many commentators are troubled by Paul's apparent disregard
for human choice and responsibility. Dodd criticizes the argument here as ‘a
false step'. O'Neill goes further, claiming the teaching is ‘thoroughly immoral', and follows a number of the church fathers in ascribing the offending verses to someone other than Paul.”

B.  God is Sovereign in Dispensing Mercy  v. 15-16

    This is a direct quote from the O.T.   Ex. 33:19

C.  Mercy cannot be mixed with Decision-ism or Works    v. 16

    

II. He is a God of Judgment 17-18

A.  The Purpose of God in the Matter of Pharaoh
    Exodus 9:15-16 

    1.  To show God's power and might through Pharaoh.
    
    2.  To declare God's name in all the earth.
    
B.  God and the Hardening of Pharaoh's Heart

“I will harden Pharaoh's heart”
4:21 7:3 14:4

God hardens Pharaoh's heart
9:12; 10:1, 20, 27; 11:10 14:8

Pharaoh's heart was hard or hardened (passive)
7:13, 14, 22; 8:19 9:7 9:35 14:5

Pharaoh hardened his own heart (active)
8:15 8:32 9:34

C.  Reprobation