ISRAEL IS NOT ABANDONED1

Romans 11:1-36

Chapter 11 is the last of the doctrinal part of the epistle of Paul to the Romans.
From the first to the eleventh chapter Paul heavily discussed the new covenant of
God which is “justification by grace through faith” and its effect to humanity. In the
earlier chapters, ch.1-3, he uncovered the human dilemma (all have sinned) then
presented the universal remedy (faith in the redemptive work of Christ on the cross)
that makes both Jew and Gentile righteous before God, ch.3-4. He also presented
the benefits of being justified, ch.5, and the role of the Holy Spirit in the
sanctification process of every believer thereby conforming them to the image of
Christ, ch.6-8. In chapters 9-11 Paul addressed the tension between God’s
faithfulness and Jewish unfaithfulness. It seems that God’s plan of salvation
(‘justification by grace through faith’) did not work with Israel. Tonight, let’s
consider how God will deal with His chosen nation, Israel, in relation to His plan of
salvation. Let us pray…
We learned from the previous two chapters that Israel has rejected the
Messiah. Paul himself expressed his utmost desire for the salvation of his fellow
Israelites (9:1;10:1). But God’s judgment to the Jews did not mean abandoning
them. This is Paul’s thesis in chapter 11. It is my prayer that this thirteenth
exposition will enlighten us on how to deal with Israel the way God deals with
them. It is a sad reality that Christians in the past, according to history, have
inflicted so much pain to the Jewish nation. Listen to this observation:
The historic church has wounded many cultures and nations.
However, the greatest spiritual schism is not between
Catholics and Protestants but between the church and Israel.
1
Ptr. Jun Hernani, Exposition 13 for Berean Fellowship UCCP Davao, October 8, 2010.

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 The terrible attacks by Christians on the Jews were not
limited to the Catholics. With the emergence of the Protestant
church in the 1500s, theologies were also promulgated within
the branch of Christendom that continued the persecution.
Some of these theologies contributed to the Nazi-perpetrated
Holocaust. The Jews have survived each succeeding, and
seemingly more vicious, assault, but the wounds they have
received from Christians over the centuries are deep. This has
caused Israel to equate Christianity with the destruction of
their souls rather than with salvation. It has understandably
hardened them even more to the gospel. However, this
schism between the church and Israel is now being
addressed, and many Jewish people are finding an
extraordinary grace for forgiving and trusting Christians.2

We can’t undo this dark past but we can begin today with a clean slate and
desire, like Paul, for the salvation of the nation of Israel. In this chapter, Paul gives
us five reasons why God did not abandon Israel.

First, Israel is not abandoned because God is trustworthy, vv.1-4. 1 I ask,

then, has God rejected his own people, the nation of Israel? Of course not! I myself
am an Israelite, a descendant of Abraham and a member of the tribe of Benjamin.
2
No, God has not rejected his own people, whom he chose from the very beginning.
Do you realize what the Scriptures say about this? Elijah the prophet complained to
God about the people of Israel and said,3 "LORD, they have killed your prophets
and torn down your altars. I am the only one left, and now they are trying to kill me,
too." 4 And do you remember God's reply? He said, "No, I have 7,000 others who
have never bowed down to Baal!"

Paul begins this chapter with another possible objection in the form of a
rhetorical question from his listeners after he dealt with Israel’s unfaithfulness
toward God, “Did God reject Israel?” His answer is an emphatic, “No!” Paul,

2
Rick Joyner, Shadows of Things to Come (Nashville: Thomas Nelson Publishers, 2001), 48.

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himself, a Jew from Benjamin’s tribe, is a solid proof that God did not abandon
Israel, v.1b. But the greater proof, according to Paul, is that God is trustworthy.
“…God did not reject his people, whom he chose from the very beginning”, v.1. In
other words, God will remain true to Israel. God will never lie and will always be
trustworthy. What He promised, He will fulfill. And God has remained the same
yesterday, today and always. Even if Israel became unfaithful God remained
faithful. His faithfulness is evident in the trustworthiness of His words. Remember
what happened in the wilderness after Moses led the Israelites out of Egypt to
freedom. God was with them as a pillar of cloud by day and a fire by night. Yet that
generation died in the wilderness because of hardheartedness. Only Joshua and
Caleb and the new generation were able to enter the Promised Land. Even Moses
only saw the Promised Land from afar because he also disobeyed God. In spite of
the rebellion of others God allowed those who remained obedient to see the promise
fulfilled. In God’s trustworthiness He can never reject Israel. I like Eugene
Peterson’s rendition of v.2 in the Message Translation, “God has been too long
involved with Israel, has too much invested, to simply wash his hands of them.”
Paul quotes the story of Elijah found in 1 Kings 19:10, 14 and 18. In 1 Kings 17,
Elijah is introduced in connection with his bringing drought on the land by the
power of God because of Israel's sins. 1 Kings 18 records a second confrontation
with Ahab and Jezebel when Elijah killed all the prophets of Baal. 1 Kings 19
reveals a second flight of Elijah from the evil intentions of Jezebel.3 After an initial
victory in the contest on Mount Carmel, Elijah fled from Jezebel's threats on his

3
“Elijah’s Flight to Mt.Horeb” in The Living Bible Commentary in Theophilos, CD-Rom.

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life. Dejected and hiding in a cave at Mt. Horeb, the prophet complains to God and
so God assured him that there are still 7,000 who remained faithful to him.4
In his desperation and fear, God had to enlighten and encourage Elijah that
even in the midst of idolatrous leaders and nation, He has preserved a people for
Himself. This brings us to the second point.
Second, Israel is not abandoned because God is gracious, vv.5-27. One,
God’s grace is given to the underserving Jews, vv.5-6. 5It is the same today, for a
few of the people of Israel have remained faithful because of God's grace—his
undeserved kindness in choosing them.6 And since it is through God's kindness, then
it is not by their good works. For in that case, God's grace would not be what it
really is—free and undeserved.
In verse five and six Paul talks about the remnant, like those who remained
faithful to God in the time of Elijah. Those who remained faithful experienced the
undeserved kindness of God. Paul has to emphasize again that grace is free and
undeserved. Thus, God’s favor did not come out of good works. Paul had to
acknowledge that though few among the Jews had experience salvation by grace
through faith through Christ’s redemptive work on the cross, this few is an
assurance that God will be gracious to the nation of Israel in the future.
Two, God’s grace has been extended to the undeserving Gentiles, vv. 7 So this is
the situation: Most of the people of Israel have not found the favor of God they are
looking for so earnestly. A few have—the ones God has chosen—but the hearts of
the rest were hardened.8 As the Scriptures say, "God has put them into a deep sleep.
To this day he has shut their eyes so they do not see, and closed their ears so they
do not hear."9 Likewise, David said, "Let their bountiful table become a snare, a
trap that makes them think all is well. Let their blessings cause them to stumble, and
let them get what they deserve. 10 Let their eyes go blind so they cannot see, and let
their backs be bent forever."
4
Ibid.

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 Because of righteousness based on the Law most Israelites did not receive
God’s salvation but few did. In verses 8-10 Paul again quotes Old Testament
passages from Isaiah 29, Deuteronomy 29 and Psalm 69 to point out that the
blindness and hardheartedness of Israel has been allowed and approved by God. We
can never measure the thoughts of God. The hardening of the hearts of the Jews
became an opportunity for the Gentiles to experience salvation by grace through
faith. Paul continues in verse 11, “11 Did God's people stumble and fall beyond
recovery? Of course not! They were disobedient, so God made salvation available
to the Gentiles. But he wanted his own people to become jealous and claim it for
themselves.12 Now if the Gentiles were enriched because the people of Israel turned
down God's offer of salvation, think how much greater a blessing the world will
share when they finally accept it. 13 I am saying all this especially for you Gentiles.
God has appointed me as the apostle to the Gentiles. I stress this,14 for I want
somehow to make the people of Israel jealous of what you Gentiles have, so I might
save some of them.15 For since their rejection meant that God offered salvation to
the rest of the world, their acceptance will be even more wonderful. It will be life
for those who were dead!
Paul is so sure that his fellow Israelites will later recover from being blind to
God’s work in Christ. In the meantime, this rebellion became an occasion for the
Gentiles to know Christ as Lord and Savior. And this massive homecoming of non-
Israelites will become a positive catalyst for the Jews to receive the Gospel due to
their jealousy. According to Paul, if they will just submit to God’s way, how more
blessed it will be. Let me read verse 15 according The Message Version, “If their
falling out initiated this worldwide coming together, their recovery is going to set
off something even better: mass homecoming! If the first thing the Jews did, even
though it was wrong for them, turned out for your good, just think what's going to
happen when they get it right!”
Third, God’s grace is all-encompassing, v.16. 16And since Abraham and the
other patriarchs were holy, their descendants will also be holy—just as the entire
batch of dough is holy because the portion given as an offering is holy. For if the
roots of the tree are holy, the branches will be, too.

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 Paul provides two metaphors to drive a point that God’s grace to the Israelites
will never cease. First, he takes the ancient practice of consecrating a part of the
dough which was believed to make the rest suitable for use (see Num. 15:20,21).
By the dedication of a part to God's service, the remainder is thereby consecrated.5
Second, is a picture of the presentation of the first-fruit. This picture denotes the
firstling of fruit or grain which was separated from the mass and presented as an
offering to God. The Jews were required to present such a portion of their harvest
to God, as an expression of gratitude and of their sense of dependence; Num. 15:19-
21.6 By these metaphors Paul is saying that ‘since the patriarchs and the righteous
remnant are dedicated to God, the whole Jewish nation will be acceptable for God’s
use. Barnes says, “By their piety the nation was, in a manner, sanctified, or set apart
to the service of God; implying that yet the great mass of them would be reclaimed
and saved.”7 Paul is convinced that someday, Jewish nation will come to know the
salvation that is by grace through faith in the redemptive work of Christ on the
cross.
In verses 17-27 Paul has to give a stern warning to the Gentile converts so as
not to make them proud because of their status in Christ. He says, “17 But some of
these branches from Abraham's tree—some of the people of Israel—have been
broken off. And you Gentiles, who were branches from a wild olive tree, have been
grafted in. So now you also receive the blessing God has promised Abraham and
his children, sharing in the rich nourishment from the root of God's special olive
tree.18 But you must not brag about being grafted in to replace the branches that
were broken off. You are just a branch, not the root. 19 "Well," you may say, "those
branches were broken off to make room for me."20 Yes, but remember—those
branches were broken off because they didn't believe in Christ, and you are there
because you do believe. So don't think highly of yourself, but fear what could
happen.21 For if God did not spare the original branches, he won't spare you either.
5
Ibid.
6
“Romans” in Barnes Notes on the O.T. and N.T.
7
Ibid.

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22
Notice how God is both kind and severe. He is severe toward those who
disobeyed, but kind to you if you continue to trust in his kindness. But if you stop
trusting, you also will be cut off.23 And if the people of Israel turn from their
unbelief, they will be grafted in again, for God has the power to graft them back
into the tree.24 You, by nature, were a branch cut from a wild olive tree. So if God
was willing to do something contrary to nature by grafting you into his cultivated
tree, he will be far more eager to graft the original branches back into the tree
where they belong.25 I want you to understand this mystery, dear brothers and
sisters, so that you will not feel proud about yourselves. Some of the people of Israel
have hard hearts, but this will last only until the full number of Gentiles comes to
Christ.26 And so all Israel will be saved. As the Scriptures say, "The one who
rescues will come from Jerusalem, and he will turn Israel away from ungodliness.
27
And this is my covenant with them, that I will take away their sins.”

Using grafting as an analogy Paul compares the Gentiles to a wild olive which
is unfruitful, useless and barren while the Jews represent the special olive tree.
Those that did not bear fruit were cut-off while the wild olive branch was grafted to
the special olive tree thereby making it fruitful. How is grafting done? Barnes
writes:
The process of grafting consists in inserting a scion or a
young shoot into another tree. To do this, a useless limb is
removed; and the engrafted limb produces fruit according to
its new nature or kind, and not according to the tree in which
it is inserted. In this way a tree which bears no fruit, or
whose branches are decaying, may be recovered, and become
valuable. The figure of the apostle is a very vivid and
beautiful one. The ancient root or stock, that of Abraham,
etc., was good. The branches -- the Jews in the time of the
apostle -- had become decayed and unfruitful, and broken off.
The Gentiles had been grafted into this stock, and had
restored the decayed vigor of the ancient people of God; and
a fruitless church had become vigorous and flourishing.8

8
Ibid.
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 Paul is quick to warn the Gentiles against pride for being able to experience
God’s goodness in Christ. The church has this tendency even in this present
century. Take for example the ‘Replacement’ theology that espouses the belief that
the church is the “spiritual Israel” and has replaced Israel as God’s chosen people,
assuming all of the promises that were made to the Jewish people.9 According to
Paul, the hardheartedness of Israel will last until the full number of Gentiles come
to Christ and then salvation of Israel will become a reality and God’s forgiveness a
lived reality, vv.25-27. This is a mystery but can be understood according to Paul.

Third, Israel is not abandoned because God is loving, vv.28-29.28 Many of

the people of Israel are now enemies of the Good News, and this benefits you
Gentiles. Yet they are still the people he loves because he chose their ancestors
Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob.29 For God's gifts and his call can never be withdrawn.

Here Paul made it clear that the rejection of the Jews of the Messiah made
them enemies of God yet they remained His treasured people because He loved
Israel. In other words, God’s steadfast love never ceases amidst rebellion of His
chosen people. Again, this temporary hardheartedness became an opportunity for
the Gentiles to taste God’s gracious salvation in Christ. This shows how God can
transform a bad situation into something beneficial for others so that it will
ultimately bring glory to Him.

Fourth, Israel is not abandoned because God is merciful, vv.30-32.30 Once,

you Gentiles were rebels against God, but when the people of Israel rebelled
against him, God was merciful to you instead.31 Now they are the rebels, and God's
mercy has come to you so that they, too, will share in God's mercy. 32 For God has
imprisoned everyone in disobedience so he could have mercy on everyone.

9
Rick Joyner, Shadows of Things to Come, p.64.

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 In verses 30-32 Paul uses a type of logic familiar during his day. This logic is
similar to the “from the light to the heavy” argument of the rabbis.10 The rebellion
of Israel opened the way for the Gospel to be preached to the Gentiles who were
once rebels and thus provided a way for them to be saved. This in turn should result
to sharing the good news to the Israelites. In other words, the unbelief of the Jews
caused Gentile nations to be saved. This belief should in turn result to the salvation
of the Jewish nation. This is made possible because of God’s mercy.

Last, Israel is not abandoned because God is sovereign, vv.33-36.33 Oh, how
great are God's riches and wisdom and knowledge! How impossible it is for us to
understand his decisions and his ways! 34 For who can know the LORD's thoughts?
Who knows enough to give him advice? 35 And who has given him so much that he
needs to pay it back? 36 For everything comes from him and exists by his power and
is intended for his glory. All glory to him forever! Amen.

Paul concludes his whole argument (from ch.1 to 11) with a confession of
faith in an all-powerful God. The whole argument can be settled with this ultimate
confession that God’s thought is, indeed, higher than our thoughts and God’s ways,
higher than ours. As creatures, we cannot fathom His decisions and ways. Nobody,
in fact, is qualified to be His adviser. And He owes nothing from anybody. In the
final analysis, He is the reason why we exist and how we exist. It is in His
sovereign will to save Israel and not abandon her. The ultimate goal in everything
that happens, whether good or ill, is for Him to be glorified forever and ever. Paul
provides us the right perspective in all things, even in the situation of Israel now
who remained unfaithful to her God. Friends, God did not abandon His own people,
Israel. We might as well start praying for them and share the gospel to them so that

10
“Romans” in The Living Bible Commentary in Theophilos, CD-Rom.

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we can be instrumental in the fulfillment of what Paul has discussed in the eleventh
chapter of his epistle to the Romans.
Let me end with this report from Jerusalem Post during the 50th celebration of
Hitler’s rise to power as chancellor of Germany in 1983.
The war Hitler unleashed and the organized mass murder that
was a central part of his design cost the lives of 40 million
human beings in Europe alone. Among them 6,000,000 Jews -
two-thirds of the Jews in Europe. More than 6,000,000 of his
own people also died and others were left hungry.11

Friends, this is a gruesome picture of how hatred to Jewish nation can become
very brutal. Let it be a lesson for Germany and for all the world that we have no
right to pass judgment to the Jews, to anybody else, for their unfaithfulness to God.
All we need to do is to hope and pray for that day that they will acknowledge
Christ’s lordship in their individual lives, family and country. Leave room for
repentance and trust God’s sovereignty. Let us pray…

11
“Anti-Semitism…What is it?” A paper by Laura Moe in http://christianactionforisrael.org/antiholo/summanti.html> (Cited:
September 24, 2010 at 7:24am)

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