By: Curtis Baker
Having cleared up some things last week that might be mistaken about our understanding of Israel, both ancient and modern, we are now ready to resume Paul’s complicated argument in Romans 9-11. To review very quickly, Paul is taking up the question of whether God’s promises to the people of Israel have failed, since so many Israelites have not come into the New Covenant under the Messiah. Paul’s answer to that question is an unequivocal “no.” The failure has not been on God’s part. The failure has been among the people of Israel itself. According to Paul in 9:6-18, this should not come as a surprise. Israel’s history is a repeated story of unfaithfulness to God. Throughout the history of God’s relationship with Abraham’s descendants, Paul has made the point that God has always made choices about who would be a part of his promises and who would not. Even though many might see this as capricious and fickle on the part of God, Paul has taken pains to show that the responsibility for this does not lie with God. It lies with Israel who has been unfaithful from the beginning. Just as God used the disobedience of Pharaoh to serve his purposes, so also has God used the disobedience of Israel to serve his purposes (9:14-18).
Paul then anticipates that this might lead to another question from his Jewish readers: “If God has used us in such a way, who can blame us? Can we resist God’s will?” It’s a good question, and one worthy of consideration. Paul has a quick and very sharp answer to their question. “Who are you to talk back to God?” In other words, “God created us; we did not create God. Therefore, God does not answer to us, but we answer to God.”
The point that Paul is driving at through this imaginary conversation is that Israel really has no room to challenge anything God does. From the very beginning of Israel’s relationship with God, they have not been faithful to him. Despite their promise in the desert to obey all that God had commanded of them through Moses, Israel turned their back on God time and time again. Their heart was stolen by other gods, and their lives were given over to all kinds of idolatry. Because this is true, Paul knows Israel has no right to challenge anything that God has done with them. God has been more than merciful in his patience with Israel.
But as Paul considers the patience and providence of God, he realizes there is a greater purpose behind all of this. God’s patience in delaying his judgment against Israel was more than simply an act of mercy. It certainly was that! But it was so much more. It was always God’s intention that through his working with Israel, his will would be made known to all who are willing to accept it. Israel repeatedly made this difficult because of their disobedience…but God was merciful, not only for their own sake, but also so that the riches of his glory might be made known to all of those who are called according to his purposes. This includes a remnant from the people of Israel, but also from every nation and tribe of people on the earth.
According to Paul in 9:25-29, the Old Testament always anticipated this. Even though Israel consistently misread their own scriptures, the evidence of what God was up to was there the whole time. His intention has always been to call people out of every nation, tribe, and people, to be devoted to him in love and obedience. Israel has the same opportunity that every other people has. Their ethnic heritage is not what guarantees acceptance into the New Covenant in Christ. Like all people, covenant is made when the call to repent, be baptized, and to take on Jesus as your teacher is accepted and put into practice. This is God’s eternal purpose for all mankind.
(Don’t forget to join me for A Message From the Heart radio program Sunday evening at 8:00pm on KJAK 92.7FM, or streaming live at www.kjak.com)
(curtisbaker@hotmail.com)
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