Scripture to Read: Romans 11:7–11
We must always be careful in examining God’s Truth. For instance, if we only examine Romans 11:7–8, we would think that God had only chosen a small portion of Israel and rejected the rest, but that is not true. So, God tells us in Romans 11:7 that Israel failed to obtain God’s grace because they tried to get it through their own works by trying to keep God’s Law on their own. From what God taught us in Romans 9 & 10, we know that no one can keep God’s Law through their own effort. But God mentions in Romans 10:7 that a chosen few from Israel did receive His grace, but the rest hardened their hearts. To confirm Israel’s hardened hearts, God had Paul quote Deuteronomy 29:4, Isaiah 29:10, and Psalm 69:22–23 in Romans 11:8–10. At first reading, it seems God hardened them, and God caused them to miss His Truth. But, just as in Romans 1:24, 26, & 28, we read how God dealt with those who refused Him and His Word, that “God gave them over” to their fleshly desires. God did the same thing with the unrepentant of Israel. But there is always good news in God’s Truth. God had Paul ask and answer in Romans 11:11, "I say then, they did not stumble so as to fall, did they? May it never be!” God used (Romans 8:28) the Israelite's rejection of Jesus as Messiah to bring salvation to the Gentiles (us) “to make Israel jealous,” realizing they forfeited Christ.
Challenge & Application
Why is it essential to examine God’s Word in context and not base our beliefs on just a few Scriptures we like?
How did God use the Israelite's rejection of Christ to bring Christ to the Gentiles?
Don’t forget to pray using the A.C.T.S. (Adoration, Confession, Thanksgiving, Supplication) method!