That verse comes with other verses with a context . That context is about the temporary judicial hardening of Israel. The jews are now wondering what's the deal with these Gentiles coming in to the picture without the need to become a proselyte first .
Here's the context, these are allegories (about Jacob and Esau, Pharaoh and the Israelites, a potter's molds, vessels of wrath and vessels of mercy) applied universally to even
us whom he has called, not from the Jews only but also from the Gentiles:
Romans 9 (ESV)
13 As it is written, "
Jacob I loved, but Esau I hated."
14 What shall we say then? Is there injustice on God's part? By no means!
15 For he says to Moses, "
I will have mercy on whom I have mercy, and I will have compassion on whom I have compassion."
16 So then it depends not on human will or exertion, but on God, who has mercy. 17 For the Scripture says to Pharaoh, "For this very purpose I have raised you up, that I might show my power in you, and that my name might be proclaimed in all the earth."
18 So then
he has mercy on whomever he wills, and he hardens whomever he wills. 19 You will say to me then, "Why does he still find fault? For who can resist his will?"
20 But
who are you, O man, to answer back to God? Will what is molded say to its molder, "Why have you made me like this?"
21 Has the potter no right over the clay, to make out of the same lump
one vessel for honorable use and another for dishonorable use?
22 What if God, desiring to show his wrath and to make known his power, has endured with much patience
vessels of wrath prepared for destruction, 23 in order to make known the riches of his glory
for vessels of mercy, which
he has prepared beforehand for glory—
24 even
us whom he has called, not from the Jews only but also from the Gentiles?
