Romans 11

God’s Ways Are Not Our Ways

Today we come to the last chapter Paul dedicates to his dialogue on Israel. He began this discourse by explaining why the Jews had stumbled in the first place. They believed the law was the way to salvation, if only they could just keep all the it. Paul knew this better than anyone. After all, he had persecuted the Christians because of this belief. Then one day, his eyes were opened to the truth. Salvation is only through Christ who fulfilled the law perfectly so he could become the unblemished sacrifice for us on the cross. Yesterday, was the glorious end to holy week. A week ago, we celebrated Palm Sunday. Then we entered into a time of reflection culminating in the Celebration of all celebrations – Easter Sunday morning. It was by Christ’s resurrection that we are now freed from sin and death. All we have to do is confess with our mouth Jesus is Lord and believe in our heart that He was raised from the dead. It is not by works, but by faith. So why did the Jews miss this? They had all the prophets, the festivals, the temple… all pointing the way to the Messiah. It is because they refused to see it. They stubbornly hung on to the notion they could somehow work their way into salvation. If only they could just keep that law! And so now, Paul asks the question on all the minds of the readers – Did God reject His people? Here is his answer.

Vs 1-10 I ask, then, has God rejected His people? Absolutely not! For I too am an Israelite, a descendant of Abraham, from the tribe of Benjamin. God has not rejected His people whom He foreknew. Or don’t you know what the Scripture says in the passage about Elijah—how he pleads with God against Israel? Lord, they have killed Your prophets and torn down Your altars. I am the only one left, and they are trying to take my life! But what was God’s reply to him? I have left 7,000 men for Myself who have not bowed down to Baal. In the same way, then, there is also at the present time a remnant chosen by grace. Now if by grace, then it is not by works; otherwise grace ceases to be grace. What then? Israel did not find what it was looking for, but the elect did find it. The rest were hardened, as it is written: God gave them a spirit of insensitivity, eyes that cannot see and ears that cannot hear, to this day. And David says: Let their feasting become a snare and a trap, a pitfall and a retribution to them. Let their eyes be darkened so they cannot see, and their backs be bent continually.

Absolutely not, Paul says. Remember the Greek phrase for this? Me ginomai: may it never come to pass. Paul reminds them that he is an Israelite, (as were Peter, John, Andrew, Matthew…). God has not rejected his people. Paul reminds them of God’s answer to Elijah – I have left 7,000 men for Myself who have not bowed down to Baal. There has always been, and always will be. a remnant. I, along with many of my fellow colleagues, have seen this first hand in our work in Jewish ministries. God’s people coming to know Christ and discovering the riches of His mercy and grace. Watching their eyes open is one of the most exciting things. Suddenly everything they know makes perfect sense; the festivals, the temple, the prophets, the history… It all comes together in perfect harmony as they realize everything in the law foreshadows the Messiah. His fulfillment of the law launches them, and us, into an extraordinary celebration of grace.

The remnant of believers shows us several things about God. First, numbers is not a thing with God. We are often attracted to, and desire numbers. Larger churches, larger budgets, big bright programs, etc. But God doesn’t concern himself with numbers. He is, in fact, able to do great things with very little. Here are several examples throughout scripture. Let’s start with Gideon. In Judges 7, we read that Gideon starts out with an army of about 32,000 warriors. That seems like a perfect number to go to war with to me, but God says “that’s too many”. Throughout the chapter, God whittles that number down to a lowly 300 men! These 300 men must now rely on God to win the battle for them. In the example Paul gives us, we find this: “Then Elijah said to the people, “I am the only remaining prophet of the Lord, but Baal’s prophets are 450 men.” One vs. 450. Not great betting odds. But, with God on Elijah’s side, the 450 are defeated. Our next example finds us with a bit of a math problem: Matthew 14:15-17; “When evening came, the disciples approached Him and said, “This place is a wilderness, and it is already late. Send the crowds away so they can go into the villages and buy food for themselves.” “They don’t need to go away,” Jesus told them. “You give them something to eat.” “But we only have five loaves and two fish here,” they said to Him.” In this passage we find about 5000 men (not counting women and children) who haven’t had dinner on one side, and 5 loaves and 2 fish on the other. Jesus shows us that those odds are perfect in God’s math. Over and over again, God uses what we consider as very little resources to see amazing things happen. It isn’t about the big numbers, it’s about a Big God.

The next thing we find about the remnant is they see with eyes of grace, instead of eyes blinded by their need to work out their salvation. The law could not, and was never meant to, save. Instead it acts as a stumbling block, a wall, they can not get over. Several of my believing Jewish friends say it this way: they are so consumed by what is written, they can’t open their eyes to see what’s written. Before coming to Christ, they are immersed in the words of the law. They tried to follow it letter by letter. They celebrated every festival, prayed every prayer, followed every kosher rule… Yet, they missed what it said. They missed Christ, who is prominently displayed throughout the law. When they come to faith, the light comes on. The darkened room has been illuminated. The festivals make sense, the prayers come to life and even the smallest points of the law are understood – in the light of grace. But why have their eyes been “darkened so they cannot see”? Paul answers this for us.

Vs 11-16 I ask, then, have they stumbled in order to fall? Absolutely not! On the contrary, by their stumbling, salvation has come to the Gentiles to make Israel jealous. Now if their stumbling brings riches for the world, and their failure riches for the Gentiles, how much more will their full number bring! Now I am speaking to you Gentiles. In view of the fact that I am an apostle to the Gentiles, I magnify my ministry, if I can somehow make my own people jealous and save some of them. For if their rejection brings reconciliation to the world, what will their acceptance mean but life from the dead? 

Their stumbling is not so they will fall. Their stumbling is not so they will never see. Me ginomai says Paul again. On the contrary, by their stumbling, salvation has come to the Gentiles to make Israel jealous. First let’s point out, there is a difference between stumbling and falling. When I go hiking in the woods, I will sometimes stumble over a tree root, or rock, but I will not fall. For a moment, I feel that secondary panic that comes from the sensation of falling. Then, I right myself and carry on. And this is Paul’s desire: that his own people would feel that sensation of falling and come to the awareness of grace and not works. That their eyes would be opened and their minds to come to a full understanding of scripture. Oh, if only they would understand grace. Then they could walk the path God has for them.

Vs 17-24 Now if the firstfruits offered up are holy, so is the whole batch. And if the root is holy, so are the branches. Now if some of the branches were broken off, and you, though a wild olive branch, were grafted in among them and have come to share in the rich root of the cultivated olive tree, do not brag that you are better than those branches. But if you do brag—you do not sustain the root, but the root sustains you. Then you will say, “Branches were broken off so that I might be grafted in.” True enough; they were broken off by unbelief, but you stand by faith. Do not be arrogant, but be afraid. For if God did not spare the natural branches, He will not spare you either. Therefore, consider God’s kindness and severity: severity toward those who have fallen but God’s kindness toward you—if you remain in His kindness. Otherwise you too will be cut off. And even they, if they do not remain in unbelief, will be grafted in, because God has the power to graft them in again. For if you were cut off from your native wild olive and against nature were grafted into a cultivated olive tree, how much more will these—the natural branches—be grafted into their own olive tree?

So just who is the firstfruits Paul is describing here? It would be those first Jewish believers. One thing we often forget is that all the first believers at Pentecost were Jewish. All the apostles were Jewish. All but one of the authors of the New Testament were Jewish. Jesus, was in fact, Jewish. Salvation has come from the Jews to the world, and the firstfruits are considered holy – which makes the whole batch holy. Paul shows us – if the root is holy so are the branches. He then proceeds to give us a horticultural lesson. Sometimes, there will be branches that will break off, or be broken off. Sometimes, there will be branches that will be grafted in. Those grafted in branches thrive because they share the root with the original branches. I did a little research on grafting olive branches and found out something very interesting. This is not the way things were usually done. The grafting process was actually the other way around – original branches were usually grafted onto the wild olive tree. The readers of this letter would have taken note of this – and that is what Paul wanted. He is reminding them, God does not do things the way we do them. His ways are not our ways. He is grafting the wild olive trees (the Gentiles) into the original tree (the Jewish tree), not the other way around. Paul wants the readers to understand where the root really is. On a side note, I believe the church of today often forgets this. There will be a remnant, and the natural branches will be grafted back into their own olive tree!

Vs. 25-32 So that you will not be conceited, brothers, I do not want you to be unaware of this mystery: A partial hardening has come to Israel until the full number of the Gentiles has come in.  And in this way all Israel will be saved, as it is written: The Liberator will come from Zion; He will turn away godlessness from Jacob. And this will be My covenant with them when I take away their sins. Regarding the gospel, they are enemies for your advantage, but regarding election, they are loved because of the patriarchs, since God’s gracious gifts and calling are irrevocable. As you once disobeyed God, but now have received mercy through their disobedience, so they too have now disobeyed, resulting in mercy to you, so that they also now may receive mercy. For God has imprisoned all in disobedience, so that He may have mercy on all.

Paul says – don’t get conceited! I will state this clearly. This passage refutes entirely any idea that today’s church has replaced Israel as a “New Israel”. Paul states very clearly: Regarding the gospel, they are enemies for your advantage, but regarding election, they are loved because of the patriarchs, since God’s gracious gifts and calling are irrevocable. The Greek word for irrevocable is ametamelétos, which means not to be repented of, about which no change of mind can take place. God did not suddenly change His mind and choose someone else. Nor, frankly, do we want God to be one who changes His mind. That would make things rather unstable! No, the Jewish nation are still God’s chosen people and, God is still the One who never changes. Paul quotes Isaiah 59:20-21: “The Redeemer will come to Zion, and to those in Jacob who turn from transgression.” This is the Lord’s declaration. “As for Me, this is My covenant with them,” says the Lord: “My Spirit who is on you, and My words that I have put in your mouth, will not depart from your mouth, or from the mouth of your children, or from the mouth of your children’s children, from now on and forever,” says the Lord. Forever is, well, forever. The good news – we have been grafted in! We partake in the riches of the many promises of God. We have received the great mercy freely bestowed on the firstfruits. God’s grace is, and has always been, for everyone. His purpose has always been for the firstfruits of His righteousness to be a light to the nations. Isaiah 42:6: “I, Yahweh, have called You for a righteous purpose, and I will hold You by Your hand. I will keep You and appoint You to be a covenant for the people and a light to the nations.” Isaiah 49:6: “He says, “It is not enough for you to be My Servant raising up the tribes of Jacob and restoring the protected ones of Israel. I will also make you a light for the nations, to be My salvation to the ends of the earth.” Isaiah 51:4: “Pay attention to Me, My people, and listen to Me, My nation; for instruction will come from Me, and My justice for a light to the nations. I will bring it about quickly.” And Isaiah 60:3: Nations will come to your light, and kings to the brightness of your radiance.” God’s mercy is for all!

Vs. 33-36 Oh, the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and the knowledge of God! How unsearchable His judgments and untraceable His ways! For who has known the mind of the Lord? Or who has been His counselor? Or who has ever first given to Him, and has to be repaid? For from Him and through Him and to Him are all things. To Him be the glory forever. Amen.

And now we are back to the theme: God’s ways are not our ways. We are unable to understand why He does what He does. We certainly can’t be His counselor! We will never be able to give more to God than He gives to us and He will never owe us anything. In the book of Job, Job has questioned God and Job’s “friends” have given their opinion on why all the bad things had happened. Everyone in the book, including Job, thinks he understands the mind of God. Then God speaks. He begins this way in Job 38:1-7: “Who is this who obscures My counsel with ignorant words? Get ready to answer Me like a man; when I question you, you will inform Me. Where were you when I established the earth? Tell Me, if you have understanding. Who fixed its dimensions? Certainly you know! Who stretched a measuring line across it? What supports its foundations? Or who laid its cornerstone while the morning stars sang together and all the sons of God shouted for joy?” God’s answer continues through chapter 41. It is a lengthy list of reasons God’s ways are not our ways. Job speaks only once: “I am so insignificant. How can I answer You? I place my hand over my mouth. I have spoken once, and I will not reply; twice, but now I can add nothing,” Job 40:4-5. Like Job, we realize that we were not there when God created the world. We don’t always understand why things happen the way they do. We can’t know the mind of God in all things. His ways are not our ways. He is not concerned with numbers and He does not do things according to our plans or do them the way we do them. He grafts the wild branches into the original tree – not the other way around. What we do know is, God’s wisdom is beyond compare, His knowledge is beyond measure, and His grace is unending, given to all in need of mercy.