SUPERNATURAL AGRICULTURE

Romans 11:17-24
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)

THE GENTILE FACTOR

Romans 11:11-16
Holy Bible. New Living Translation copyright © 1996, 2004 by Tyndale Charitable Trust.

God’s Mercy on Israel

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! 16 And 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.


We have been looking at God’s relationship to Israel for a few days now. Does it ever enter your thought process that because God chose Israel, the rest of us (the Gentiles) are somehow an after-thought to Him? Israel is God’s chosen people. God sent Jesus to Israel. “They were disobedient, so God made salvation available to the Gentiles.”

No, I think not. God’s love for His creation has always been total and without prejudice. His using Israel the way He has, is part of His plan. In God’s omnipotence, He knew the outcome of each step in His plan for the salvation of humankind. So He knew Israel would be disobedient before He chose them. He knew that they would reject Jesus. He knew that the Cross was part of the plan and God knew how the message of the gospel would go far beyond the borders of Israel.

Salvation for Gentiles has always been part of God’s plan of salvation. His mercy is not just for Israel. It has always been for all.

How marvelous! How wonderful! And my song shall ever be.

How Marvelous! How wonderful! Is my Savior’s love for me!

(My Savior's Love -Charles H. Gabriel, 1856-1932)

THE REMNANT IN ISRAEL

Romans 11:1-10

God’s Mercy on Israel

God chose Israel as the nation through whom He would reveal Himself to all nations. Yet, only a “… few of the people of Israel have remained faithful…”. That few … the remnant … have never bowed down to false gods and therefore have found the favor of God they earnestly sought.

The special relationship between God and Israel has not changed. He has not rejected them and He is using the remnant to continue to show them His grace … to show them that His favor is not earned by their works. It is a free gift.

Jesus Christ came to save the lost through Israel; through a descendant of Abraham … the father of the Jews. Messianic Jews (the remnant) and believing Gentiles alike, are all the same in this … our relationship to the merciful God is through His Son Jesus.

HEAR AND UNDERSTAND

Romans 10:16-21
Holy Bible. New Living Translation copyright © 1996, 2004 by Tyndale Charitable Trust.

Salvation is for Everyone

16 But not everyone welcomes the Good News, for Isaiah the prophet said, “Lord, who has believed our message?” 17 So faith comes from hearing, that is, hearing the Good News about Christ. 18 But I ask, have the people of Israel actually heard the message? Yes, they have:

“The message has gone throughout the earth, and the words to all the world.”

19 But I ask, did the people of Israel really understand? Yes, they did, for even in the time of Moses, God said,

“I will rouse your jealousy through people who are not even a nation. I will provoke your anger through the foolish Gentiles.”

20 And later Isaiah spoke boldly for God, saying,

“I was found by people who were not looking for me. I showed myself to those who were not asking for me.”

21 But regarding Israel, God said,

“All day long I opened my arms to them, but they were disobedient and rebellious.”

The Apostle Paul asks two questions about Israel. Have they heard? Did they understand? His answer to both questions was yes but still God points to their disobedience and their rebelliousness.

So hearing and understanding are not enough. One must also receive the message in their heart and be willing to change.

As Paul’s prayer (Romans 10:1) continued for Israel, so must we continue to pray for lost souls … for the “… disobedient and rebellious.”