Why The Difference?

"And there shall be a great cry throughout all the land of Egypt, such as there was none like it, nor shall be like it any more. But against any of the children of Israel shall not a dog move his tongue, against man or beast: that ye may know how that the LORD doth put a difference between the Egyptians and Israel." (Exodus 11: 6, 7)

"...no one of you be puffed up for one against another. For who maketh thee to differ from another? and what hast thou that thou didst not receive? (as a free gift) now if thou didst receive it (as a free gift), why dost thou glory, as if thou hadst not received it (as a free gift)?" (I Corinthians 4: 6, 7)

Why are people different? Why are some short and others tall? Why are some born with natural gifts in various arts while others not? Why are some born with the gifts of sight and hearing, while others are born deaf and dumb? Will we say it is all accident? Will we ascribe all differences to secondary causes and leave God, the First Cause, out of the matter? And, the chief question, why are some loved and saved by God, and others not? Or, why do some come to God through Christ and others not? What or who shall we say "made the difference"?

God asked Moses this interogative:

"And the LORD said unto him, Who hath made man's mouth? or who maketh the dumb, or deaf, or the seeing, or the blind? have not I the LORD?" (Exodus 4: 11)

If we view the ability to see, speak, and hear as "gifts" of God, we cannot avoid the conclusion that he makes both the seeing and the blind, the hearing and the deaf, and the speaking and the dumb.

God owes no creature anything. When he makes a creature, he does not have to subsequently get that creature's approval of his creative work. The creature has no rights. If he has any, they are granted to him freely and graciously by his Creator, not because they are the creature's "due."

"And not only this; but when Rebecca also had conceived by one, even by our father Isaac; (For the children being not yet born, neither having done any good or evil, that the purpose of God according to election might stand, not of works, but of him that calleth;) It was said unto her, The elder shall serve the younger (a difference). As it is written, Jacob have I loved, but Esau have I hated. What shall we say then? Is there unrighteousness with God? God forbid. For he saith to Moses, I will have mercy on whom I will have mercy, and I will have compassion on whom I will have compassion (make the ultimate difference). So then it is not of him that willeth, nor of him that runneth, (not of the creature) but of God that sheweth mercy (freely and sovereignly, out of grace, and not out of debt to the creature). For the scripture saith unto Pharaoh, Even for this same purpose have I raised thee up, that I might shew my power in thee, and that my name might be declared throughout all the earth. Therefore hath he mercy on whom he will have mercy, and whom he will he hardeneth. Thou wilt say then unto me, Why doth he yet find fault? For who hath resisted his will (can resist being created to the end God has purposed)? Nay but, O man (a creature), who art thou that repliest against God? Shall the thing formed say to him that formed it, Why hast thou made me thus? Hath not the potter power over the clay, of the same lump to make one vessel unto honour, and another unto dishonour? What if God, willing to shew his wrath, and to make his power known, endured with much longsuffering the vessels of wrath fitted to destruction: And that he might make known the riches of his glory on the vessels of mercy, which he had afore prepared unto glory, Even us, whom he hath called, not of the Jews only, but also of the Gentiles?" (Romans 9: 10-24)

Again, all this simply says that God is the one who has determined our destinies. He is the Potter and we are the clay. We cannot say "we made ourselves," as the Psalmist said - "It is he who has made us, and not we ourselves" (Psalm 100: 3).

"I say then, Hath God cast away his people? God forbid. For I also am an Israelite, of the seed of Abraham, of the tribe of Benjamin. God hath not cast away his people which he foreknew. Wot ye not what the scripture saith of Elias? how he maketh intercession to God against Israel saying, Lord, they have killed thy prophets, and digged down thine altars; and I am left alone, and they seek my life. But what saith the answer of God unto him? I have reserved to myself seven thousand men, who have not bowed the knee to the image of Baal. Even so then at this present time also there is a remnant according to the election of grace. And if by grace, then is it no more of works: otherwise grace is no more grace. But if it be of works, then it is no more grace: otherwise work is no more work. What then? Israel hath not obtained that which he seeketh for; but the election hath obtained it, and the rest were blinded." (Romans 11: 1-7)

Again, why do some obtain salvation and others not? Why do some reject God and others accept him? Why do some believe the gospel and others do not? Why do some Christians persevere in the faith and others do not? The answer is the same in each case - "the election of God has obtained it and the rest were blinded (hardened)."

Friend, are you willing to own that God is Potter and that you are clay? Do you own his rightful sovereignty over your life? Or do you rather complain and indite God for having made you who you are? Do you challenge his sovereignty and right to do with you as he sees fit?