"I will have mercy on whom I will have mercy." Is God's mercy predictable?

Introduction

I have heard someone say on her deathbed, "I didn't obtain mercy from God", because she could not receive her healing. It was heart-breaking, to say the least.

A lot of people think that God shows mercy to people randomly. That is, if you are lucky He will show you mercy, and if you are not...well, bad luck!

This post was written to clarify the predictability of God's mercy. Can we be sure of obtaining His mercy, or we have to wish to Heaven that He's in the "mercy mood" whenever we need mercy?

Why people think God's mercy is arbitrary

In Romans 9:15, it is written,

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.

Some have taken this to mean that God arbitrarily decides who and when to show mercy. But this fails a major test of scripture, which is, "by the mouth of two or three witnesses every matter shall be established." (2 Corinthians 13:1). 

Did God say anything about mercy elsewhere? Let's find out what He said, and see why His mercy cannot be arbitrary!

Scriptures that prove that God's mercy is predictable

1. Proverbs 28:13: Mercy guaranteed for repentant sinners

He that covereth his sins shall not prosper: but whoso confesseth and forsaketh them shall have mercy.

I think this is a good place to start, because it has to do with repentance! Shall is one of the strongest assertions in the English language. Here, God guarantees mercy for anyone who confesses and forsakes their sin.

You have something you need to repent of? The time is now!

Acts 3:20 and Isaiah 55:7 corroborate this point. 

2. Luke 1:50: Generational mercy for those who fear Him 

And his mercy is on them that fear him from generation to generation.

This scripture confirms that those who fear God can expect His mercy from one generation to another!

It pays to fear God, doesn't it?

Exodus 20:6 and Psalm 103:11 say about the same thing.

3. Matthew 5:7 - You sow mercy, you reap mercy!

Blessed are the merciful: for they shall obtain mercy.

We have the word shall again. This is consistent with the law of sowing and reaping. Want to receive mercy? Show mercy!

Proverbs 19:17, Proverbs 21:13, and James 2:13 attest to this.

4. Hebrews 4:16 - Mercy is guaranteed at the Throne of Grace

Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need.

God Himself invites us to come to His throne to obtain mercy. It says we should come boldly, and we couldn't do that if we weren't expecting to obtain mercy.

Ephesians 2:4 tells us that God is rich in mercy, indicating that He gives it out freely.

Come to the Throne of Grace today, in the Name of Jesus!

Conclusion

From the foregoing, I think it's clear that God doesn't show mercy arbitrarily; there are ways to obtain mercy guaranteed by His Word!