Romans 11:7-10

Passage

What, therefore?  What Israel desired to realize, it did not obtain it.  The chosen ones obtained it, but the remaining ones were completely unwilling to learn.  Just as it has been written, “God gave to them a spirit of bewilderment – eyes to not see and ears to not hear – unto this very day.”  And David says, “Their table has become a snare and a trap and a stumbling block and their recompense.  Let their eyes be darkened in order to not see and bend their backs through all time.”

Thoughts for Today

First Thought:

Paul makes a really neat point in the opening verse of this section – although it is worded in today’s language so we miss it.  Too often we get wrapped up in the words “chosen ones” and miss what Paul is saying.  Paul isn’t saying that some Hebrew people believed because they were predestined to believe while others didn’t believe because God made it impossible for them to believe.  Rather, those who believed are the chosen ones.  What Paul is saying is that among the group that the Hebrew people said “all are saved” what we find in reality is that “some are saved.”  The lesson here is that we understand that salvation is by God’s grace and only by God’s grace.  There is no magical ticket based upon our works, our lineage, our attendance, etc.

Have you obtained salvation?  How do you know?  How can you be confident in this?

Second Thought:

The other part of Paul’s argument is the “remaining ones.”  The key to the remaining ones is the unwillingness of their heart.  They don’t want to learn.  They don’t want to change.  They don’t mind being called “God’s People” but they really don’t want to be God’s people.  They are interested in their own life, their own ways, their own goals, their own aspirations.  They simply aren’t willing to submit and follow God.

Do you think this is a problem in today’s world?  What about today’s churches?  What does it look like to live in a culture that acknowledges God with their lips but not always with their hearts?

Third Thought:

Now Paul quotes scripture.  One of the passages Paul quotes is Psalm 69:22-23, which is one of the most important Psalms as it pertains to the Messiah.  What David is saying in the psalm is that what should be a blessing in their life (table) turned out to be judgment against them (snare and trap).  The Hebrew people had the Law.  They had the prophets.  They had relationship with God.  But when Christ came, not many followed Him.  They have no excuse.  For the record, we don’t either.  We have just as much of God’s Word and spiritual wisdom as the Hebrew people of Jesus’ day.  What should be our blessing can be just as much of a snare to us if we aren’t willing to listen and follow.

Is it fair for God to expect us to follow Him just because He gave us His Word and the model of Jesus?  Have you ever felt like you were ensnared because you turned your back upon God and His Word?  How do you get out of that situation?

Passage for Tomorrow: Romans 11:11-12