Daily Bread Romans 11
Daily Bread Romans 11:33-36
“Oh, how great are God’s riches and wisdom and knowledge! How impossible it is for us to understand his decisions and his ways! For who can know the Lord’s thoughts?
Who knows enough to give him advice? And who has given him so much that he needs to pay it back? For everything comes from him and exists by his power and is intended for his glory. All glory to him forever! Amen.”
Observation:
Paul goes on at length to describe the relationship of the Jews, who were the original bearers of the Promise through Abraham, Issac and Jacob, and the Gentiles, who received the Promise after the Jews rejected Jesus. As we mentioned before, Paul’s new mission is to be sent as a messenger to the Gentiles, but we see he spends a good amount of time reconciling what God will do with the Jews, His own people, who he came from.
Paul argues that although those who have rejected Jesus have been cut off, there is still a remnant of faithful Jews who did not reject God’s promises, which came true in Jesus Christ. Paul makes it clear that although belief in Jesus became a stumbling block for the Jews, they are not beyond recovery were they to return to true faith.
And also the Gentiles, though they have now been recipients of the grace of God through Israel’s disobedience, should not think that they are above the discipline of God should they turn away from belief. I think these last verses sum up what could be confusing for some as they try to make sense out of this discourse. Paul concludes, “God’s ways are higher than our ways. We don’t always understand why He does what He does. But in the end God will do what He needs to do to accomplish His own purposes and be glorified.”
Application:
I got into a great conversation with one of our GSLC members about these last two chapters. It seems as though God is kind of arbitrary about who gets picked and who is left out. It is hard to imagine God would pre-destine someone to not believe and be cut off from God’s mercy and grace.
Paul clarifies some of this in verses 1 and 2 when he says, “Does this mean God has rejected His own people.” To which he replies, “Of course not, God has not rejected His people from whom He chose from the very beginning.” Then he also says, “If those who have been broken off because of their disbelief, come back to faith they will be grafted again to the Vine.”
So we see here the kindness of God, but also his sternness for those who reject Him. Even for those who reject Him, God waits for them to return to faith and is willing to accept them again into the family of God.
As we conclude then we see 4 qualities of God’s true nature. He is: 1.) All Loving – He wants all to come to him in faith. 2.) All Powerful – God can do anything He wants 3.) All Knowing – God knows who will reject Him and who won’t. 4.) All Patient – God waits for those who reject Him to come back to Him as a Father waits for a lost Son. (Ie. See the Parable of the Prodigal Son in Luke 11)
Prayer: God thank you for loving us and extending Your mercy to us. Help us to trust in You and not rely on good works to be made right with You. Thanks for being patient with us to turn to You alone for salvation. We pray for those who have rejected You that we might help them to turn back and repent of their disbelief to be part of Your family again, both Jews and Gentiles. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
“Oh, how great are God’s riches and wisdom and knowledge! How impossible it is for us to understand his decisions and his ways! For who can know the Lord’s thoughts?
Who knows enough to give him advice? And who has given him so much that he needs to pay it back? For everything comes from him and exists by his power and is intended for his glory. All glory to him forever! Amen.”
Observation:
Paul goes on at length to describe the relationship of the Jews, who were the original bearers of the Promise through Abraham, Issac and Jacob, and the Gentiles, who received the Promise after the Jews rejected Jesus. As we mentioned before, Paul’s new mission is to be sent as a messenger to the Gentiles, but we see he spends a good amount of time reconciling what God will do with the Jews, His own people, who he came from.
Paul argues that although those who have rejected Jesus have been cut off, there is still a remnant of faithful Jews who did not reject God’s promises, which came true in Jesus Christ. Paul makes it clear that although belief in Jesus became a stumbling block for the Jews, they are not beyond recovery were they to return to true faith.
And also the Gentiles, though they have now been recipients of the grace of God through Israel’s disobedience, should not think that they are above the discipline of God should they turn away from belief. I think these last verses sum up what could be confusing for some as they try to make sense out of this discourse. Paul concludes, “God’s ways are higher than our ways. We don’t always understand why He does what He does. But in the end God will do what He needs to do to accomplish His own purposes and be glorified.”
Application:
I got into a great conversation with one of our GSLC members about these last two chapters. It seems as though God is kind of arbitrary about who gets picked and who is left out. It is hard to imagine God would pre-destine someone to not believe and be cut off from God’s mercy and grace.
Paul clarifies some of this in verses 1 and 2 when he says, “Does this mean God has rejected His own people.” To which he replies, “Of course not, God has not rejected His people from whom He chose from the very beginning.” Then he also says, “If those who have been broken off because of their disbelief, come back to faith they will be grafted again to the Vine.”
So we see here the kindness of God, but also his sternness for those who reject Him. Even for those who reject Him, God waits for them to return to faith and is willing to accept them again into the family of God.
As we conclude then we see 4 qualities of God’s true nature. He is: 1.) All Loving – He wants all to come to him in faith. 2.) All Powerful – God can do anything He wants 3.) All Knowing – God knows who will reject Him and who won’t. 4.) All Patient – God waits for those who reject Him to come back to Him as a Father waits for a lost Son. (Ie. See the Parable of the Prodigal Son in Luke 11)
Prayer: God thank you for loving us and extending Your mercy to us. Help us to trust in You and not rely on good works to be made right with You. Thanks for being patient with us to turn to You alone for salvation. We pray for those who have rejected You that we might help them to turn back and repent of their disbelief to be part of Your family again, both Jews and Gentiles. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
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