GOD'S PLAN FOR THE NATION OF ISRAEL, PART I: THEY ARE THE CHOSEN NATION BUT HAVE STUMBLED!
Romans 9:1-33
As taught by Dave Lindstrom
I. Paul confirms the nation of Israel’s special place in God’s purposes and grieves over it’s lack of response to Christ (vs 1-5).
A. Chapters 9 through 11 are written to explain to believers what has happened, what is happening and what will happen to Israel.
B. A logical question for a believer who has been assured of God’s reliability concerning his/her eternal security(Rom 8:28-39) is: What is going on with God’s chosen people Israel?
C. Paul’s continual sorrow and pain over the nation of Israel is so great that he would give up his own salvation for theirs (vs 1-3).
D. In the past, God’s plan through the nation of Israel has resulted in many blessings (vs 4,5) including: 1. The adoption (Jews being children of God, Deut. 14:1; Ex. 4:22) 2. The glory (the times when God revealed His presence, Ex. 24:17) 3. The covenants (i.e. the Abrahamic, Gen. 12, 15; the Davidic, 2 Sam. 7; the New, Jer. 31) 4. The receiving of the Law, Ex. 20; Deut. 5) 5. The temple worship (Exodus and Leviticus) 6. The promises (given in the covenants and other prophecies) 7. The patriarchs (i.e. Abraham, Isaac, Jacob) 8. The human ancestry of Christ (Messiah, Matt. 1; Luke 3) 9. The spiritual ancestry of Christ is God and, therefore, Christ is God over all, blessed forever! (Col. 1:15-20, 2:9).
Thought: What is the difference between religion and relationship when it comes to God? Which have you had this week?
II. Even though many in the nation of Israel have rejected Christ, God’s word and purpose have not failed(vs 6-13).
A. Everybody born as national Israelites are not children of God (vs 6-9).
1. The promises of God were not given to all of Abraham’s seeds (descendents) but to one specific seed, Isaac, who was according to the promise (vs 6-9; Gen. 21:12).
2. Paul clearly states that the promised seed ultimately speaks of Christ(Gal. 3:16).
B. God’s purpose has stood and continues to stand because of his election (ekloga-selection, choice) (vs 10-13).
1. God’s election is not based on a person’s or nation’s moral goodness, works, or birth order. God’s choice happens way before these(vs 10-12; Eph. 1:4).
2. The idea of hating and loving as used in verse 13 is not based on God’s temperament but is based on God’s election (choice).
a. This is a Hebrew idiom (figure of speech) where the opposite is used to express a lesser degree(Gen. 29:30; Luke 14:26).
b. God did provide for Esau(Gen. 27:29; chapter 36; Deut. 23:7) and blessed him and his family in certain ways(Gen. 33:4-17).
Thought: Why should it comfort and encourage believers to know that God’s word and purpose cannot fail?
III. God’s election is based on his freedom, His mercy, His purposes, our sinfulness, and the mystery of God (vs 14-18).
A. God is not unjust but he is mercifully accomplishing His purposes in and through the lives of sinful humanity (vs 14-18).
1. He chose to show mercy to Moses and Israel by revealing His glory, His law and Himself (vs 14, 15; Ex. 33:18-34:10). However, God holds Moses and Israel responsible and desires repentance for restored fellowship (Ex. 32:30-35).
2. He chose to harden the heart of Pharaoh in order to display His power and proclaim His name (vs 16-18). However, Pharaoh is held accountable for his actions and unbelief (Ex. 5:2) and rebellion and progressively hardens his own heart (Ex. 8:32) while God seems to give him over (like in Rom. 1:18-32) to his own sinful ways (Ex. 10:1).
B. Our creator has the right to plan and form His creation according to His choosing, like a potter and His clay (vs 19-29).
1. God creates Moses, Pharaoh, and every kind of life in between to display His power and glorify His name (vs 22-24).
a. The objects of his wrath seem to be those in Romans 1:18-32 who refuse to believe in God or His salvation. Therefore, God is patient with them desiring their repentance (vs 22; Rom. 2:3, 4; 2 Pet. 3:9). They have prepared themselves and continue preparing themselves (katartismena- perfect tense) for destruction.
b. The objects of his mercy have been prepared beforehand (proatoimasen- aorist tense) for glory (vs 23; Eph. 2:6-10).
2. Paul uses Old Testament scriptures to show that God’s plan showed a time where Gentile believers would increase and Jewish believers would decrease (vs 24-29; Ho. 2:23, 1:10; Isa. 10:22,23, 1:9).
3. Paul’s Israel and present day Israel have only a remnant of true children of God because they have stumbled. They are pursuing their righteousness by works rather than by faith in Jesus Christ (vs 30-33; Isa. 8:14, 28:16).
