Daily Devotions
Romans
"How much more their fullness!"
Text: Romans 11:12
WAS THE FALL OF ISRAEL PERMANENT?
Paul certainly wrote strongly about Israel’s sad spiritual state of affairs! Another question must however be raised at this point of time! Was their fall from grace a permanent one?
“I say then, have they stumbled that they should fall?
Certainly not! But through their fall, to provoke them to jealousy,
salvation has come to the Gentiles.
Now if their fall is riches for the world, and their failure
riches for the Gentiles, how much more their fullness.”Romans 11:11-12
The text above may be more easily understood if we broke it down into bite-size portions.
1. Did Israel stumble (spiritually)?
Yes!
2. Did Israel fall (spiritually)?
Yes!
3. What was the consequence of their stumbling and falling?
a) It resulted in the message of salvation being given to the Gentiles (Cf. Acts 13:46).
b) It resulted in the world (Gentiles) being enriched.
4. Did God have a purpose in allowing this state of affairs to befall Israel?
Yes!
5. What was one special purpose for God to have blessed the Gentiles as He did!
a) Hopefully Israel would be stirred by “jealousy”.
i) This is a human analogy
ii) Sometimes a sibling will attempt to eat more (or study better) because he sees his sibling receiving more.
b) Gentiles were being so greatly blessed, because the Jews had rejected God’s salvation.
6. Was there yet Hope of fullness for the future?
Yes!