11 But even before the children were born, and before they’d done anything right or wrong (so that God’s purpose could continue, proving God’s calling of people is not based on human performance),
16 So it does not depend on what we want, or our own efforts, but the merciful nature of God. 18 So God is merciful to those he wishes to be, and hardens the attitude of those he wants to.9:18. In the Old Testament, this expression is used to describe obstinate rejection of God, such as the experience of the Pharaoh of the Exodus. In Exodus 9 Pharaoh is variously described as choosing a stubborn attitude, or that God gave him a stubborn attitude, or in the passive that he had a stubborn attitude. So this verse in Romans should not be taken to mean that God deliberately hardens people’s attitudes and then punishes them for it. The stubborn attitude is a rejection of divine grace.