“For the Scripture tells Pharaoh, I raised you up for this reason so that I may display my power in you and that my name may be proclaimed in the whole earth.” (Romans 9:17)
Isn’t it a tremendous comfort to recognize that God is in control, that He has a plan, and that His purposes will not be thwarted by the foibles of mankind?
So, when everything seems out of control in the world or your life, remember that God still is, and always will be in ultimate control. Don’t give in to fear.
Or when you think YOU have everything under control, or are tempted to put your trust in the power and promises of man, remember that God still is, and always will be in ultimate control. Don’t give in to false security.
P.S. See this original post for info about this photo challenge and more about this reading plan I’m using this summer for the book of Romans (and I’d love to have you join in!)!
About the photo: This magnificent elderberry bush beautified my lunch break during a trip to town today, proving that the beauty of nature is to be found even in a grocery store parking lot.
Rejoicing Hills 
Troy and I had a huge discussion on this very passage of scripture this morning. This grouping of verses has been one of several gray areas of the christian faith that seem to trip believers up as it does my son Ben. Free will and how that is understood in the christian faith can be PRETTY TRICKY!!!
So did God KNOW that pharaoh wouldn’t choose God anyway so HE used pharaoh as a tool or did God use Pharaoh as a tool anyway. How about us? Does God predestine us to be HIS or does HE look down the corridors of time and know we WILL choose HIM so therefore HE knows we are HIS before we are born.
My BEN struggles with these areas as do I. It doesn’t trip up my faith because I KNOW I CAN’T KNOW all things. Unfortunately that doesn’t help a TYPE A/ black and white person like my son. Faith for people like him is hard.
Yes, this can be a hard one! I think there comes a point for each one of us when we have to simply let go of our “need” to fully understand, to believe that there are no contradictions with God, and trust that both can be and are true.