Responding to God’s Plan

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Opening Prayer

Lord, help me quiet the thoughts that fill my head: where to go, whom to see, what to do. I need Your peace now.

Read Romans 11:1-24

^[1] I ask then: Did God reject his people? By no means! I am an Israelite myself, a descendant of Abraham, from the tribe of Benjamin. ^[2] God did not reject his people, whom he foreknew. Don’t you know what Scripture says in the passage about Elijah-how he appealed to God against Israel: ^[3] “Lord, they have killed your prophets and torn down your altars; I am the only one left, and they are trying to kill me”? ^[4] And what was God’s answer to him? “I have reserved for myself seven thousand who have not bowed the knee to Baal.” ^[5] So too, at the present time there is a remnant chosen by grace. ^[6] And if by grace, then it cannot be based on works; if it were, grace would no longer be grace. ^[7] What then? What the people of Israel sought so earnestly they did not obtain. The elect among them did, but the others were hardened, ^[8] as it is written: “God gave them a spirit of stupor, eyes that could not see and ears that could not hear, to this very day.” ^[9] And David says: “May their table become a snare and a trap, a stumbling block and a retribution for them. ^[10] May their eyes be darkened so they cannot see, and their backs be bent forever.” ^[11] Again I ask: Did they stumble so as to fall beyond recovery? Not at all! Rather, because of their transgression, salvation has come to the Gentiles to make Israel envious. ^[12] But if their transgression means riches for the world, and their loss means riches for the Gentiles, how much greater riches will their full inclusion bring! ^[13] I am talking to you Gentiles. Inasmuch as I am the apostle to the Gentiles, I take pride in my ministry ^[14] in the hope that I may somehow arouse my own people to envy and save some of them. ^[15] For if their rejection brought reconciliation to the world, what will their acceptance be but life from the dead? ^[16] If the part of the dough offered as firstfruits is holy, then the whole batch is holy; if the root is holy, so are the branches. ^[17] If some of the branches have been broken off, and you, though a wild olive shoot, have been grafted in among the others and now share in the nourishing sap from the olive root, ^[18] do not consider yourself to be superior to those other branches. If you do, consider this: You do not support the root, but the root supports you. ^[19] You will say then, “Branches were broken off so that I could be grafted in.” ^[20] Granted. But they were broken off because of unbelief, and you stand by faith. Do not be arrogant, but tremble. ^[21] For if God did not spare the natural branches, he will not spare you either. ^[22] Consider therefore the kindness and sternness of God: sternness to those who fell, but kindness to you, provided that you continue in his kindness. Otherwise, you also will be cut off. ^[23] And if they do not persist in unbelief, they will be grafted in, for God is able to graft them in again. ^[24] After all, if you were cut out of an olive tree that is wild by nature, and contrary to nature were grafted into a cultivated olive tree, how much more readily will these, the natural branches, be grafted into their own olive tree!

Meditate

Think of a time when you have looked back and gained from God a fresh perspective on your life. Thank God for his steadfast purposes.

Think Further

So now, Paul says, just because God’s people have not responded to the message of Jesus, this does not mean God has finished with them. We get very hung up about the language of predestination here (1-6), but Paul’s point is that God’s plans are not limited by ignorance of the future in the way that ours are. Rather, knowing how his people would respond, he continued to offer himself, even sending his own Son.

Where we are inclined to see God’s sovereignty and human responsibility as opposites (the more God is sovereign, the less we are responsible), Paul sees them going hand in hand, so it is natural for Paul to cite Deuteronomy 29 and its reuse in Isaiah 29, along with Psalm 69, to highlight this. These are not words of vengeance, but words that recognize the consequences of our decisions. We need to read them alongside Paul’s passionate plea for his people at the beginning of this section, in Romans 9:1.

How should I, as a Gentile, regard those of Israel who have not responded to the message of salvation in Jesus? With gratitude, hope and attentiveness. I am grateful that the “transgressions” (11,12) of others have not led to God rejecting humanity, but to the extension of his grace to people like me who were not even seeking it. This indeed is “riches for the world” (12), and I must continue to hope that all God’s people, including Israel, will come to faith. Finally, I am attentive. My place among God’s people has always depended solely on God’s “kindness” (22). It would be more natural for those who have received God’s promises down the centuries (the cultivated olive tree; v. 24) to see and receive his grace, and, as one grafted in, I must therefore honor them.

Apply

How do you feel about those within and outside the church whom you feel are opposed to God’s plans? How might this passage shape your response to them?

Closing prayer

Father, I pray for Jewish people everywhere. They gave us our Savior; our faith arose from Judaism. May the Holy Spirit work to awaken them to faith in Christ.

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