Holy Bible. New Living Translation copyright © 1996, 2004 by Tyndale Charitable Trust.
God’s Mercy on Israel
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.
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.
During the times of the early church, the era when the Apostle Paul wrote his epistles, the people were very familiar with farming. The illustrations of cultivating and grafting would be pictures they dealt with daily. Paul presents the relationships of Jews and Gentiles with God in these familiar terms to show them not only where they fit but why they fit.
God is the supernatural farmer. He does the grafting in and the breaking off. By His will, that which is “…contrary to nature…” is done.
You and I are recipients of God’s supernatural grace when we believe in Christ and continue to trust and obey.
Trust and obey – For there’s no other way.
To be happy in Jesus, but to trust and obey.(Trust and Obey – James H. Sammis)
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