Romans 11:25-36 – Lest you be wise in your own sight, I do not want you to be unaware of this mystery, brothers: a partial hardening has come upon Israel, until the fullness of the Gentiles has come in. And in this way all Israel will be saved, as it is written, “The Deliverer will come from Zion, he will banish ungodliness from Jacob”; “and this will be my covenant with them when I take away their sins.” As regards the gospel, they are enemies for your sake. But as regards election, they are beloved for the sake of their forefathers. For the gifts and the calling of God are irrevocable. For just as you were at one time disobedient to God but now have received mercy because of their disobedience, so they too have now been disobedient in order that by the mercy shown to you they also may now receive mercy. For God has consigned all to disobedience, that he may have mercy on all. Oh, the depth of the riches and wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are his judgments and how inscrutable his ways! “For who has known the mind of the Lord, or who has been his counselor?” “Or who has given a gift to him that he might be repaid?” For from him and through him and to him are all things. To him be glory forever. Amen.
If you take the nation of Israel and Jewish people out of the Bible, starting with Abraham and culminating with the coming of Jesus Christ, there is pretty much nothing left. You would assume that the largest movement of any kind in world history – the Christian church – would be filled with Jewish people. However, the vast majority of believers around the world today are Gentiles, whereas most Jewish people have no interest in Jesus.
Paul, who writes this, is Jewish, and the Apostle to Gentiles as we learned in the previous section. In 11:25-32, we learn that this “partial hardening” of their hearts is not necessarily a permanent hardening. Paul says that the Jewish rejection of Christ is only a temporary situation that will be replaced by salvation once the full number of Gentiles appointed for salvation have experienced salvation. Paul shows that God has called Israel to Himself and that God will not fail in accomplishing his purposes. Paul also states that just as the Gospel was originally kept by the Jews, then delivered to the Gentiles, so too the Gentiles now keep the gospel and will one day deliver it back to the Jews. Paul calls this future a mystery.
Even though it seems like God’s plan might’ve failed, Paul reiterates that God will not fail in accomplishing His purposes. What are some ways you’ve seen God come through in your life even when the odds seemed stacked against you?
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