Natural and Spiritual Israel

I say then, Hath God cast away his people? (11:1a). This is an important question. Some preachers today are saying, "God has cast away His people." They claim that all the prophecies concerning the natural branch of Israel were fulfilled when Titus destroyed the nation in A.D. 70. They believe that God is now through with the Jews.

I receive many letters from people who read my books and try to correct me for what they think is my misunderstanding of prophecy. They believe that the Israel of the Old Testament is the Church of today and the Jews of the Bible are now the Christians. In their minds all the present and future prophecies for Israel and the Jews find fulfillment in the Church. Such an interpretation leads these people to an incorrect view of biblical prophecy. Almost without exception, everyone who teaches that the Jews have had their chance and God has cut them off also teaches that the Church will go through the Great Tribulation.

But God hasn't cut off His people. Hath God cast away his people? God forbid [perish the thought]. For I also am an Israelite, of the seed of Abraham, of the tribe of Benjamin. God hath not cast away his people which he foreknew (11:1-2a).

Wot [know] ye not what the scripture saith of Elijah? how he maketh intercession to God against Israel (11:2b). Notice that Elijah made intercession against Israel, not for her. How would you feel if a pastor prayed against you? Elijah prayed, Lord, they [Israelites] have killed thy prophets, and digged down thine altars; and I am left alone, and they seek my life (11:3). Elijah thought things couldn't get worse. "They've killed everybody who loves You. I'm the only one left, and they're trying to kill me. You're almost out of troops, Lord !"

How did God answer the distraught prophet? I have reserved to myself seven thousand men, who have not bowed the knee to the image of Baal. Even so then at this present time also there is a remnant according to the election of grace (11:4-5). That "present time" holds to our day. God has a remnant among the Jews who believe and trust in Jesus as their Messiah. They share in the glorious blessings of God just as we Christians do.

And if by grace, then is it no more of works: otherwise grace is no more grace. But if it be of works, then is it no more grace: otherwise work is no more work (11:6). I'm accepted by God either wholly by my works or wholly by His grace. I can't be accepted partly by one and partly by the other. If I'm accepted by grace then works have nothing to do with my salvation. The Good News is that my acceptance is wholly by His grace.

What then? Israel hath not obtained that which he seeketh for; but the election hath obtained it, and the rest were blinded (according as it is written, God hath given them the spirit of slumber, eyes that they should not see, and ears that they should not hear;) unto this day (11:7-8). Israel has been blinded by God. Those Jews still trying to relate to God through the Law haven't yet received His grace.

In fact, the Jews don't even keep the covenant of the Law anymore. You say, "They observe the Sabbath, light their candles, eat their kosher meals, have their washings, and such." Yes, but where are the sacrifices for their sins? They have none. They seek to approach God totally through works. Their religion is the same as Cain's, presenting the works of their hands. As God rejected Cain, so He's rejecting the Jews and the works offered in atonement for their sins. Good works never cover a man's sins. The Jews have been blinded, because they have rejected the grace offered by God through Jesus the Messiah.

And David saith, Let their table be made a snare, and a trap, and a stumblingblock, and a recompense unto them: let their eyes be darkened, that they may not see, and bow down their back always (11:9-10). Paul quotes from one of the messianic psalms prophesying the death of Jesus Christ. "In my thirst they gave me vinegar to drink" (Psalm 69:21b). This psalm prophesies the words of Christ, and these words have been fulfilled upon Israel. The "table" of communion by which the Jews once came to God has become a stumbling block, because they reject the significance of Christ's Last Supper. Their backs are bowed down and their eyes are darkened to His truth.

I say then, Have they stumbled that they should fall? God forbid: but rather through their fall salvation is come unto the Gentiles, for to provoke them to jealousy (11:11). Are the Jews entirely removed from God's plan? No. They've been broken off temporarily from the good olive tree, but they'll be grafted in again. While the Jews are temporarily cut off, the door has been opened for the Gentiles to enter into God's grace.

Now if the fall of them be the riches of the world, and the diminishing of them the riches of the Gentiles; how much more their fulness? (11:12). If blessings have come to us through their fall, how much greater the blessings when the Jews enter their fullness. What will this blessing be? The Kingdom Age.

God will restore the Jews to His love and favor when He opens their eyes and they receive Christ. The fullness of the glorious kingdom of God will then be come. Zechariah testified to this day, saying, "And one shall say unto him, What are these wounds in thine hands? Then he shall answer, Those with which I was wounded in the house of my friends" (Zechariah 13:6). Again the prophet said, "And they shall look upon me whom they have pierced, and they shall mourn for him, as one mourneth for his only son, and shall be in bitterness for him, as one that is in bitterness for his firstborn" (Zechariah 12:10b). One day the Jews will realize their blindness and folly. They'll accept Jesus Christ, and the glorious national restoration of these people will bring in the Kingdom Age.

For I speak to you Gentiles, inasmuch as I am the apostle of the Gentiles, I magnify mine office: if by any means I may provoke to emulation [jealousy] them which are my flesh, and might save some of them (11:13-14). Paul certainly did arouse their emotions. The Jews considered his ministry to the Gentiles as sacrilegious.

Just his presence in the temple once provoked the Jews into trying to kill Paul. When order had been restored by the soldiers, Paul began talking to the Jews in their tongue. "Brothers, listen to me! I've lived all my life as a good Jew. I was zealous just like you. I understand your feelings. I tried to stop this new heresy. I persecuted these Christians. The high priest and all the Council can testify of my zeal."

"In fact, I was on my way to Damascus to persecute the Church there. About noon as I neared the city, a light came from heaven. I fell on the ground and heard a voice saying, 'Why do you persecute me?' I said, 'Who are you, Lord? I want to serve you.' The voice answered, 'I am Jesus whom you are persecuting. I am going to send you to the Gentiles."

When the Jews heard this, they began to scream, taking their coats off and throwing dirt in the air. "Kill him! Rid the earth of him! He doesn't deserve to live!" (Acts 21:27-22:23). Why? Because Paul claimed that God had sent him to the Gentiles with the message of salvation. Such a claim provoked the Jews to frenzy.

For if the casting away of them be the reconciling of the world - if God was able to reconcile the Gentile world to Himself by their rejection - what shall the receiving of them be, but life from the dead? (11:15). God's future acceptance of the Jews will bring life, the Kingdom Age, to the world.

For if the firstfruit be holy, the lump is also holy: and if the root be holy, so are the branches. And if some of the branches [Jews] be broken off, and thou, being a wild olive tree [Gentiles], were grafted in among them, and with them partakest of the root and fatness of the olive tree (11:16-17). As a Gentile, a wild branch, I've been grafted into the tree of the promises, covenants, and blessings of God. By being grafted into Christ, I'm a partaker of God's promises and a beneficiary of all the promises to Israel.

Boast not against the branches. But if thou boast, thou bearest not the root, but the root thee (11:18). You're not holding yourself up, the root is supporting you. So don't boast. You stand only by the grace of God and the mercies of Jesus Christ.

Thou wilt say, then, The branches were broken off, that I might be grafted in. Well; because of unbelief they were broken off, and thou standest by faith. Be not highminded, but fear (11:19-20). We must not boast against the Jews or look down on them. We should never think, "God cut them off so that I might be grafted in." We've been grafted in by faith - not because we're worthy, or deserving, or because God saw something special in us. We stand by faith. They were cut off because of unbelief.

For if God spared not the natural branches, take heed lest He also spare not thee (11:21). Since God cut off the natural branches, then the wild branch that's been grafted in can also be cut off.

Behold therefore the goodness and severity of God: on them which fell, severity; but toward thee, goodness, if thou continue in his goodness: otherwise thou also shalt be cut off (11:22). Your standing with God appears conditional; you must continue in His goodness. Jesus said, "Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, except it abide in the vine; no more can ye, except ye abide in me... If a man abide not in me, he is cast forth as a branch, and is withered; and men gather them, and cast them into the fire, and they are burned" (John 15:4,6).

And they also, if they abide not still in unbelief - if the Jews cease in their unbelief of Christ - shall be grafted in: for God is able to graft them in again. For if thou wert cut out of the olive tree which is wild by nature, and wert grafted contrary to nature into a good olive tree: how much more shall these, which be the natural branches, be grafted into their own olive tree? For I would not, brethren, that ye should be ignorant of this mystery, lest ye should be wise in your own conceits; that blindness in part is happened to Israel, until the fullness of the Gentiles be come in (11:23-25).

This blindness has happened to Israel until "the fullness of the Gentiles be come in." This indicates that God has chosen a certain number among the Gentiles to believe. They constitute the fullness of the Gentiles. I believe that the moment the last Gentile chosen by God surrenders his life to Jesus Christ and is born again that this dispensation will come to an immediate close. The Lord will then gather His Church to Himself, and God will once again deal with the nation Israel as His people.

In Daniel 9 the angel told Daniel that there were 70 sevens determined upon the nation Israel. From the time that the commandment goes forth to restore and rebuild Jerusalem to the coming of the Messiah the Prince would be 69 sevens. The angel then said that the Messiah would be cut off without receiving for Himself (the kingdom). The seventieth seven-year cycle of Daniel is yet future. Jesus referred to it in Matthew 24 as the time when the Antichrist will stand in the Holy Place. In II Thessalonians 2:4 Paul said that this Antichrist will there declare that he is God. This has not yet happened, so it's yet to come. Thus, we're still in the time of the Gentiles, waiting for the fullness of the Gentiles to come in.

And so all Israel shall be saved: as it is written, There shall come out of Sion the Deliverer, and shall turn away ungodliness from Jacob: for this is my covenant unto them, when I shall take away their sins. As concerning the gospel, they are enemies for your sakes: but as touching the election, they are beloved for the fathers' sakes. For the gifts and calling of God are without repentance (11:26-29). God hasn't changed. He has called the Jews, and they're still His elect.

Notice that God calls these future Jewish believers His "election." This helps us to understand the prophecy in Matthew's gospel. "Immediately after the tribulation of those days they shall see the Son of man coming in the clouds of heaven with power and great glory. And he shall send his angels with a great sound of a trumpet, and they shall gather together his elect from the four winds, from one end of heaven to the other" (Matthew 24:29-31). The "elect" refers to Jewish believers, and these prophecies in Matthew 24 are on Jewish ground.

Some Christians use Matthew 24 as proof that the Church won't be gathered to Christ until after the Tribulation and the return of Jesus. Not so. This passage will be the fulfillment of God's promise to His elect people, the Jews.

Jesus said, "Pray ye that your flight be not in the winter, neither on the Sabbath day" (Matthew 24:20). How many Christians would hesitate to travel on a Saturday, the Sabbath? We're free to travel as much as we want in all directions on Saturday. However, a Jew seeking righteousness by the Law cannot walk more than two-thirds of a mile on the Sabbath day.

Some people say that God has cut off Israel and is finished with them. No, "God forbid." As Augustine said, "If you understand the dispensations, everything else is simple." Thinking that God is finished with Israel brings confusion. The greatest revival in the world is yet to take place, as God again draws these people to Himself, opens their eyes, and they recognize Him. What a beautiful day that will be!

For as ye in times past have not believed God, yet have now obtained mercy through their unbelief: even so have these also now not believed, that through your mercy they also may obtain mercy. For God hath concluded them all in unbelief, that he might have mercy upon all (11:30-32). The mercy of God has now been extended to all men. The Jews are now in unbelief. In this position they're able to receive the mercy of God.

O the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God! how unsearchable are his judgments, and his ways past finding out! (11:33). We've been looking at the ways of God - His sovereignty, calling, election - and we find these difficult to understand. For years I sought to reconcile divine sovereignty and human responsibility, eternal security and free moral agency. I pondered them, but I found it futile to search the judgments of God.

One day in exasperation I slammed down my fist and said, "God, I cannot reconcile Your sovereignty with my responsibility!" God spoke to my heart clearly and said, "I never asked you to reconcile it. I only asked you to believe it." I've had peace ever since.

I still cannot reconcile the difficulties, but I don't have to. I just accept and believe in these truths which remain to me irreconcilable. God is absolutely sovereign and can do whatever He wants. He can harden my heart, show me mercy, damn me, or save me. I believe that I can choose to call upon the Lord and be saved. He is sovereign, yet I have the choice. Though I cannot reconcile that, I believe it.

For who hath known the mind of the Lord? (11:34a). How can I understand the mind of God or think as He thinks? "Such knowledge is too wonderful for me; it is high, I cannot attain unto it" (Psalm 139:6). Or who hath been his counselor? (11:34b). God doesn't need my advice. He can run the universe without me telling Him how to do it. How many times have I been so foolish as to try to counsel God?

Or who hath first given to him, and it shall be recompensed unto him again? (11:35). God will not be a debtor to any man. Jesus said, "Give, and it shall be given unto you; good measure, pressed down, and shaken together, and running over" (Luke 6:38). This is one of the spiritual laws that God has established in the world. We're familiar with the natural laws of the universe, such as electricity, magnetism, and gravity, and we've learned to use them for our advantage. Though I don't understand how the law of electricity functions, it doesn't keep me from turning on the lights.

People often fail to realize that God has also established spiritual laws as predictable in cause and effect as natural laws. We cannot give to God without Him multiplying back to us. Because we cannot understand how the spiritual laws operate, we often fail to use them. I cannot understand why the more I give to God the more I'll receive, but I know that it works.

For of Him, and through Him, and to Him, are all things: to whom be glory for ever. Amen (11:36). Paul ends Chapter 11 with this wonderful doxology. To God be glory forever! For it's all wrapped up in Him. The universe with all its processes, all the realms of understanding and logic, all the love, mercy, and grace belong to Him.