Romans 11
Romans 11 is a very revealing and humbling chapter. Paul reminds the Romans that God still loves the Jews and that there are still those who believe in Jesus. For those of us who fall into the Gentile category, Paul reminds us of the mercy of God and from whence we came…
Paul starts off this chapter by addressing a conclusion that readers of the previous chapter may ascertain: God surely has rejected the Jews because of their rejection of Him. Nothing could have been further from Paul’s mind.
So I ask, “God has not rejected his people, has he?” Of course not! I am an Israelite myself, a descendant of Abraham from the tribe of Benjamin. God has not rejected his people whom he chose long ago. (vv 1-2a, ISV)
What amazing patience God has with His chosen people. The Message paraphrases verse 2a like this: “God has simply been too long involved with Israel, has too much invested, to simply wash his hands of them.” That’s an interesting way to put it. But that’s the way all relationships are made. An investment of time is needed to truly develop a relationship and God has obviously spent lots of time revealing Himself to the Jews. Besides the most common answer of “because of fallen mankind” why did God God do this? He did it to speak to the rest of the world.
Now, since God revealed Himself to us, the gentiles, through the Hebrews, we are not native. Elsewhere in the New Testament Pauls refers to this relationship as an adoption. Here, Paul compares it to a branch from one tree that is grafted onto another tree. But there is a twist to this comparison. It’s all well and good that we have been grafted into the family of God but we should not become so arrogant as to think that we are preferred over the Jews.
Now if some of the branches have been broken off, and you, a wild olive branch, have been grafted in their place to share the rich root of the olive tree, do not boast about being better than the other branches. If you boast, remember that you do not support the root, but the root supports you. Then you will say, “Branches were cut off so that I could be grafted in.” That’s right! They were broken off because of their unbelief, but you remain only because of faith. Do not be arrogant, but be afraid! For if God did not spare the natural branches, he certainly will not spare you either. (vv. 17-21, ISV)
Paul sums it up this way: “And don’t get to feeling superior to those pruned branches down on the ground. If they don’t persist in remaining deadwood, they could very well get grafted back in. God can do that. He can perform miracle grafts. Why, if he could graft you – branches cut from a tree out in the wild – into an orchard tree, he certainly isn’t going to have any trouble grafting branches back into the tree they grew from in the first place.” (vv. 22-24, MSG)
Remember, then, that Israel is still the Chosen People and God’s grace is still offered to them just as it is to us. We all make mistakes and rebel every once in a while. Some, like me, more than others but God knows us better than we know ourselves. How He can continue to love me knowing all my short-comings is way beyond my understanding. But He does love me and that’s something that will never change..
