Probably one of the biggest issues that I have noticed these past days is that with the COVID-19 virus, people have felt like they have lost control of their lives in so many different ways. For many it has been very unnerving and the adjustments have been difficult to say the least. For some, the stay at home has been a blessing and is helping them to rearrange their lives in such a way that will hopefully be beneficial going forward. Wherever each of us would fall on this spectrum we need to have a clear understanding of what the Apostle Paul is sharing in Romans 9.
The bottom line--God is sovereign over ALL. From the Jews in the Old Testament, to Pharoah, and to us today in 2020--God is sovereign. We cannot claim in any way that we deserve salvation but it was by God's sovereign choice to save us by his goodness and grace--not because of anything we have done. In all things God works for our good because He is trustworthy and will save all who believe in Him.
It is crucial for us in these days to grasp the truth that the qualities of God--His mercy, grace, love, faithfulness, and goodness--are the very attributes that help us to know that God is good even when we do not understand His ways. God's plan for our salvation was not for those who think that they can "earn" His favor, but for us to realize that we can never be good enough and so we rely wholly on Jesus Christ. Our salvation is only by putting our faith in what Jesus has done for us.
If during this time of virus invasion we can understand that God is working despite all that is going on around us, we can be assured in our hearts that as we go forward God is fully aware, has a plan, is working His plan in us and around us, and that He is good--all the time.