Well then, has God failed to fulfill His promise to Israel?
Romans 9:6
Remember yesterday’s passage: My heart is filled with . . . sorrow and . . . grief for my people, my Jewish brothers and sisters, . . . the people of Israel, chosen to be God’s adopted children. God revealed His glory to them. He made covenants with them and gave them His law. He gave them the privilege of worshiping Him and receiving His wonderful promises. Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob are their ancestors, and Christ Himself was an Israelite as far as His human nature is concerned. Is that clear enough?
No? Well try this. Here is the first of Paul’s rhetorical questions. “Well then, has God failed to fulfil His promise to Israel?” What about the Jews? Where do they fit in? God’s chosen, yet they are not enjoying God’s blessings. Has God gone back on His promises? Paul has just said there is nothing, nothing, absolutely nothing that can separate us from the love of God. But then he gets thinking about his own countrymen and feels burdened. If nothing can separate us from the love of God; us, the chosen, the elect, the children of God, then what about the Jews? Has God failed to fulfil His promise to Israel?
That’s a heavy question:
- Do you ask questions like that of God?
- Are you willing to grapple with the deep issues of life and Scripture?
- Do you accept all God says, or just take the nice bits?
Paul was called to the Gentiles but he was also burdened for the Jews. Moses / Paul wouldn’t just die for others but was willing to go to Hell for them – that Christ-like compassion saves the most hardened sinner!
Paul is now grappling with the question of God’s seeming failure to bless Israel. He has made a bold statement about nothing being able to separate us from the love of God. But then he deals with the issue of Israel and the fact that Israel is not blessed when theologically they should be. Has God’s promise failed? Is what he said in Romans 8:38-39 really true or isn’t it? Paul is wrestling with his own theology, or if not wrestling with it, he is putting himself in the position of the hearers and thinking through the implications. He is addressing the issues that really matter.
There is no question that Romans 9 – 11 follows Romans 8 in my mind. Can everyone see the connection?
You are heir to the entire universe—what a difference that should make!! Let it sink in.
Anon
If you’re not a Christian you have no right to pray Lord’s Prayer. ‘Our Father…’
Anon