The Future of National Israel (11:1–36)
Because God has chosen Gentiles to obtain his salvation and hardened Israelites, who are responsible for their unbelief, what will happen to God’s nation, Israel? God has not completely rejected his nation, has he? (11:1). By no means! For proof, Paul points to himself: a Jew, and also justified by faith in Jesus Christ.
Paul gives another Old Testament example: the nation of Israel during Elijah’s time (11:2–4; cf. 1 Kgs 19). The nation had rejected God’s messengers, the prophets, they had destroyed the true worship of God, and they were trying to kill Elijah. God told Elijah that he had a remnant of seven thousand people who still served and obeyed God. In the same way, God has preserved a remnant of Jewish believers in this age by his gracious choice (11:5). The individuals in national Israel who have not failed to obtain God’s salvation enjoy God’s favor because of his electing grace (11:6).
The doctrine of God’s sovereign election set forth in chapter nine as the reason why the nation had not received God’s salvation is now given as the assurance that God will once again restore his people. Thus, God’s election, which seemed so threatening in chapter nine, is the ultimate comfort in chapter eleven. Israel’s rejection of God’s Messiah is not total, but partial, because the elect will enjoy God’s salvation (11:7–10; cf. Deut 29:3; Isa 29:10; Ps 69:22–23).
Paul asks a second question in verse eleven: is Israel’s rejection final? Not at all! Israel’s rejection was part of God’s purpose in offering salvation to the Gentiles (11:11). So then, if in Israel’s fall, the rest of the world was blessed (by the offer of salvation), think how much more blessed the world will be when God restores his nation in the Millennial Kingdom (11:12). This idea of provoking the Jews to jealousy was behind Paul’s own ministry of giving the gospel to Gentiles (11:13–14).
Paul gives an extended illustration of Israel’s rejection using the idea of an olive vine and branches from a wild olive vine that are grafted into the natural vine (11:15–24). To those wild branches grafted in, he extends a warning and caution against pride. To the original branches, he extends the comfort that God can graft them back in. This leads to Paul’s prediction, buttressed by Old Testament Scripture, that national Israel will be restored (11:25–32).
Paul concludes the chapter and this section with an exclamation of God’s glory. His wisdom and his ways are far beyond ours (11:33–34), and his power and sovereignty is demonstrated in all things (11:35). Everything in the universe has its source in him as Creator, is preserved by him as Sustainer, and finds its ultimate purpose in glorifying him as God (11:36).
The comfort we find for the nation of Israel in chapter eleven is that their rejection of God’s Messiah is temporary, not final.
Because God has chosen Gentiles to obtain his salvation and hardened Israelites, who are responsible for their unbelief, what will happen to God’s nation, Israel? God has not completely rejected his nation, has he? (11:1). By no means! For proof, Paul points to himself: a Jew, and also justified by faith in Jesus Christ.
Paul gives another Old Testament example: the nation of Israel during Elijah’s time (11:2–4; cf. 1 Kgs 19). The nation had rejected God’s messengers, the prophets, they had destroyed the true worship of God, and they were trying to kill Elijah. God told Elijah that he had a remnant of seven thousand people who still served and obeyed God. In the same way, God has preserved a remnant of Jewish believers in this age by his gracious choice (11:5). The individuals in national Israel who have not failed to obtain God’s salvation enjoy God’s favor because of his electing grace (11:6).
The doctrine of God’s sovereign election set forth in chapter nine as the reason why the nation had not received God’s salvation is now given as the assurance that God will once again restore his people. Thus, God’s election, which seemed so threatening in chapter nine, is the ultimate comfort in chapter eleven. Israel’s rejection of God’s Messiah is not total, but partial, because the elect will enjoy God’s salvation (11:7–10; cf. Deut 29:3; Isa 29:10; Ps 69:22–23).
Paul asks a second question in verse eleven: is Israel’s rejection final? Not at all! Israel’s rejection was part of God’s purpose in offering salvation to the Gentiles (11:11). So then, if in Israel’s fall, the rest of the world was blessed (by the offer of salvation), think how much more blessed the world will be when God restores his nation in the Millennial Kingdom (11:12). This idea of provoking the Jews to jealousy was behind Paul’s own ministry of giving the gospel to Gentiles (11:13–14).
Paul gives an extended illustration of Israel’s rejection using the idea of an olive vine and branches from a wild olive vine that are grafted into the natural vine (11:15–24). To those wild branches grafted in, he extends a warning and caution against pride. To the original branches, he extends the comfort that God can graft them back in. This leads to Paul’s prediction, buttressed by Old Testament Scripture, that national Israel will be restored (11:25–32).
Paul concludes the chapter and this section with an exclamation of God’s glory. His wisdom and his ways are far beyond ours (11:33–34), and his power and sovereignty is demonstrated in all things (11:35). Everything in the universe has its source in him as Creator, is preserved by him as Sustainer, and finds its ultimate purpose in glorifying him as God (11:36).
The comfort we find for the nation of Israel in chapter eleven is that their rejection of God’s Messiah is temporary, not final.
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