J.A. Matteson
The rising sun illuminates the mountain's majesty; the viper conceals itself in the shadow of the rock, lying in wait for the unsuspecting. The LORD is the Maker of them both, one for honor, one for dishonor. "'Can I not, O house of Israel, deal with you as this potter does?' declares the LORD. 'Behold, like the clay in the potter's hand, so are you in My hand, O house of Israel'" (Jer. 18:6). God's sovereignty over His creation is self-evident. The pine tree does not say, "Why am I not a fir? Nor does the salmon protest, "Why have You made me this way and not like the halibut?" In His wisdom the LORD knows each of His creatures and their ends. God knows their future because He has ordained it to glorify Himself. Some vessels He has created for honor and some for dishonor. The sovereign power of God's choosing is readily seen. One man is tall and another short. One woman has brown hair and another blond. One person is wise and another simple. The LORD has ordained all things, things pertaining to mortality and immortality, salvation and perdition. And into this mystery the children of God gratefully marvel and angels long to understand.
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