Romans 11:1-2
King James Version
11 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.
2 God hath not cast away his people
which he foreknew.
What a revealing chapter Romans 11 is!
All Jews can find comfort in the following verses, revealing God's PLAN for Israel.
Elias, the prophet, fearing for his life, and pained at how prophets were being killed, and God's altars were being destroyed, makes intercession with God, against Israel.
Romans 11:4-5
King James Version
4 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.
5 Even so then at this present time also
there is a remnant
according to the election of grace.
God had given Israel the "spirit of slumber":
Romans 11:8
King James Version
8 (According as it is written,
God hath given them the spirit of slumber,
eyes that they should not see,
and ears that they should not hear;)
unto this day.
But God has a curious purpose, which may seem confusing to the fearful heart, but clear to the apostle Paul.
Romans 11:11
King James Version
11 I say then,
Have they stumbled that they should fall?
God forbid:
but rather through their fall
salvation is come unto the Gentiles,
for to provoke them to jealousy.
And the apostle Paul assures the Gentiles of the integrity of Israel:
Romans 11:16
King James Version
16 For if the firstfruit be holy,
the lump is also holy:
and if the root be holy,
so are the branches.
What follows is the comparison of Gentiles to grafted wild olive tree branches, which I wrote of in the previous post.
The breaking off of branches (some Jews), allows Gentiles to be grafted on the "good" tree, giving them many benefits, too.
Romans 11:22
King James Version
22 Behold therefore the goodness and severity of God:
on them which fell, severity;
but toward thee, goodness,
if thou continue in his goodness:
otherwise thou also shalt be cut off.
In the same manner, apostle Paul reminds Gentiles not to be "highminded", for the Jews are still the "natural branches" grafted into their own olive tree:
Romans 11:24
King James Version
24 For if thou wert cut out of the olive tree
which is wild by nature,
and wert grafted contrary to nature into a good olive tree:
how much more shall these,
which be the natural branches,
be grafted into their own olive tree?
Gratitude is good manners for Gentiles.
Romans 11:19
King James Version
19 Thou wilt say then,
The branches were broken off,
that I might be grafted in.
God truly had a purpose for causing Israel to "slumber".
Romans 11:25
King James Version
25 For I would not,
brethren,
that ye should be ignorant of this mystery,
lest ye should be wise in your own conceits;
that blindness in part is happened to Israel,
until the fulness of the Gentiles be come in.
Because Israel may be "provoked" to jealousy regarding God's GRACE upon the Gentiles, she may correct her ways, and thus, be saved, for that is the plan of God, all along:
Romans 11:26-27
King James Version
26 And so all Israel shall be saved:
as it is written,
There shall come out of Sion the Deliverer,
and shall turn away ungodliness from Jacob:
27 For this is my covenant unto them,
when I shall take away their sins.
Unbelieving Jews may seem enemies to believing Gentiles, but the "elect" are "beloved for the father's sakes".
Romans 11:28
King James Version
28 As concerning the gospel,
they are enemies for your sakes:
but as touching the election,
they are beloved for the father's sakes.
Paradoxically, now-believing Gentiles have obtained God's mercy because Jews haven't believed.
Romans 11:30-31
King James Version
30 For as ye in times past have not believed God,
yet have now obtained mercy through their unbelief:
31 Even so have these also now not believed,
that through your mercy they also may obtain mercy.
But in the end, God wishes mercy upon all.
Romans 11:32
King James Version
32 For God hath concluded them all in unbelief,
that he might have mercy upon all.
Updated 13 April 2023
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