We enjoy stories in which the characters overcome seemingly impossible odds. They face a situation which threatens to overwhelm them or destroy them and there is no way out. Then, when hope is almost gone, the consequences of a choice made much earlier change the situation and provide a solution.
We like to read about such things, but don’t enjoy it when we are caught in similar situations. Unfortunately, we are in exactly this kind of dilemma spiritually. Our sin separated us from God. There was absolutely nothing we could do to restore our relationship with Him. However God, in His mercy, chose to make a way for us. By submitting ourselves to the Savior, Jesus Christ, our relationship to God is restored. He adopts us as His children.
In his inspired letter to the church at Rome, the Apostle Paul explains that even though the Savior came through the Jewish people; even though the Israelites were God’s chosen people, the majority of them chose to reject the Savior. As a result they are in a situation where it seems there is no way out. Paul uses the metaphor of an olive tree to explain their predicament. God has cut the natural branches, that is the Israelites, off of the tree and grafted wild branches, that is non-Jewish people, into the tree in their place. Yet even so, the Israelites are not without hope. Though God has cut them off, they can still be grafted back in again.
In chapter 11, verses 25 through 32, Paul continues his explanation, “For I don’t desire you to be ignorant, brothers, of this mystery, so that you won’t be wise in your own conceits, that a partial hardening has happened to Israel, until the fullness of the Gentiles has come in, and so all Israel will be saved. Even as it is written, “There will come out of Zion the Deliverer, and he will turn away ungodliness from Jacob. This is my covenant to them, when I will take away their sins.” Concerning the Good News, they are enemies for your sake. But concerning the election, they are beloved for the fathers’ sake. For the gifts and the calling of God are irrevocable. For as you in time past were disobedient to God, but now have obtained mercy by their disobedience, even so these also have now been disobedient, that by the mercy shown to you they may also obtain mercy. For God has shut up all to disobedience, that he might have mercy on all.”
Paul cautions his readers not to become conceited. Just because God grafted non-Jewish people into the place the Israelites once occupied, it does not mean that non-Jews are superior to the Jews. It is true that the Jews became hardened, but the hardening is only partial. In what sense? In previous verses Paul wrote that a remnant remained. In other words, though most Jews rejected Christ, many accepted Him. Paul himself was a Jew. So were all of the other Apostles. Christ’s first disciples were Jews. In the beginning, the church was composed entirely of Jews. It was Jews who proclaimed the Gospel message to non-Jews.
Another sense in which the hardening of the Jews is partial is that it is limited in duration. Paul writes that the hardening will last only until “the fullness of the Gentiles has come in”. There is controversy over what Paul means. Some think that he is saying that when all the non-Jewish people who will accept Christ have done so, the hardness of the Jews will break. Others think that when the majority, or at least a certain number, of non-Jewish people have accepted Christ, the Jews will also. However, the most likely meaning is that the hardness of the Jewish people will break after Christianity is regarded as non-Jewish. When the Jewish people see the blessing of forgiveness of sin which God grants the non-Jewish followers of Christ, it will, as Paul stated earlier in verse 11, move them to envy – they will desire that blessing for themselves and will turn to Christ to obtain it.
As Paul wrote earlier, the Jewish people tried to please God through their own efforts. They tried to obtain righteousness by following the Law of Moses. However, the time will come that they will realize that the only way they can receive the forgiveness of sins and true righteousness is the same as anyone else – through Jesus Christ.
Does the fact that the Jews, for the most part, rejected Christ make them enemies to those of us who do follow Christ? In a sense, yes. Anyone who rejects the Savior is also opposed to those who accept Him. You cannot reject one without rejecting the other. Unfortunately, history is full of examples of people bearing the name of Christ who have persecuted the Jewish people for this very reason. To do so, however, is totally against the spirit of Christianity. Jesus told His disciples, “You have heard that it was said, ‘Love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ But I tell you: Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, that you may be sons of your Father in heaven. He causes his sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous.” (Matthew 5:43-45 NIV)
Paul also reminds us that God’s call has not changed. God chose the Israelites as His special people. He gave lasting promises to the patriarchs. God has never revoked the promises or His call. Though at this time the majority of the Jewish people may be enemies to those who follow Christ, God still loves them and will show mercy to them.
How will this come about? Just as the Jews’ disobedience resulted in God’s mercy being extended to non-Jewish peoples, the obedience of non-Jewish people proclaiming the Gospel will result in mercy being shown to the Jews as well. All of us, Jew and non-Jew alike have sinned and disobeyed God. Through Christ, He shows mercy to us all.
When Paul contemplated God’s mercy, it caused him to break out in praise. In verses 33 through 36 he writes, “Oh the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and the knowledge of God! How unsearchable are his judgments, and his ways past tracing out! “For who has known the mind of the Lord? Or who has been his counselor?” “Or who has first given to him, and it will be repaid to him again?” For of him, and through him, and to him, are all things. To him be the glory for ever! Amen.” Does God’s mercy move us to praise?