Dear Suzanne, Rebecca, Anna and Mikayla,
Paul had just covered the fundamentals of salvation in chapters 1-8 and goes from talking about our absolutely secure position in Christ in chapter 8 to discussing the nation of Israel in Chapter 9 and weeping for his countrymen. This appears to be a detour...it would seem that the practical aspects of our salvation should come next. (Romans 12-15) Paul, however, is defending God's character here. He is answering the question that comes from Romans 8...What about the Jew? Has God put aside Israel...is He not being true to His word? Will He now build the church and forget about His promises to Israel? If Israel is God's chosen people, are they now separated from the love of God now because of their rejection of the Messiah? If that is the case, how can we (the church)...the ones that are grafted in....trust God? These are the questions Paul is answering. He covers the nation of Israel's past in Romans 9, their present in Romans 10 and their future in Romans 11.
Romans 9 is all about God's sovereignty. We need to look at God's sovereignty with a biblical balance. If we look at it from the perspective of God is in control and man cannot resist His will, we err...if we look at it as mostly human responsibility and God just responds to our choices, we err. It is both. We really can't wrap our minds around it, but that is what the Bible teaches. God's invitation of salvation was for the whole world. We are commanded to preach the gospel to the whole world. People reject the gospel because of the hardness of their hearts...not because God's invitation was not sincere. I have heard it said that the only way to know you are one of God's elect is to repent and accept Him as our Lord and Savior. With all that said, let's look at Romans 9:1-13.
I tell the truth in Christ, I am not lying, my conscience also bearing me witness in the Holy Spirit, 2 that I have great sorrow and continual grief in my heart. 3 For I could wish that I myself were accursed from Christ for my brethren, my countrymen according to the flesh, --Romans 9:1-3
What a heart Paul had! Since I am reading through Jeremiah, it reminds me of Jeremiah but most commentators will say that his heart expressed sentiments similar to Moses. When Moses prayed in chapter 32 of Exodus, he asked to be blotted out from the Book of Life if God did not forgive His people. Paul loved his countrymen and would rather be accursed from Christ...spend eternity in hell then see them be separated from God. Paul's heart was filled with continual grief for the Jewish people in thinking about their rejection by God because they rejected God's Messiah. The application for us here is obvious...how much are we willing to give up for the salvation of those around us. Paul was willing to spend an eternity separated from God...sometimes I am not even willing to give up my comfort!
who are Israelites, to whom pertain the adoption, the glory, the covenants, the giving of the law, the service of God, and the promises; 5 of whom are the fathers and from whom, according to the flesh, Christ came, who is over all, the eternally blessed God. Amen--Romans 9:4-5
Next Paul talks about God's election of Israel and all the Israelites had been given by God. How faithful He was to them. They were adopted by God as His chosen people. (Exodus 4:22, Hos 11:1) He was their Father, they were His firstborn. His glory was in the cloud in Exodus and in the temple in 1st Kings. The covenants were given to Israel...to Abraham then additional ones to Moses and David. His law was given to protect them and enable them to govern properly. He guaranteed blessing if they obeyed. Israel ministered to Him in the tabernacle and temple as priests. To them He gave the promises. To the fathers...to the descendants of Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, Joseph, He gave the Messiah! The Messiah, the blessed God who came down, was Jewish....Despite all these blessings, Israel failed. They rejected and crucified their Messiah. Paul understood this with "heart" knowledge having persecuted Christians until his conversion on the Damascus Road. Does Israel's failure mean God's failure too? Nope...God is faithful no matter what we might do. Whew...read verses 6-10 below.
But it is not that the word of God has taken no effect. For they are not all Israel who are of Israel, 7 nor are they all children because they are the seed of Abraham; but, “In Isaac your seed shall be called.”] 8 That is, those who are the children of the flesh, these are not the children of God; but the children of the promise are counted as the seed. 9 For this is the word of promise: “At this time I will come and Sarah shall have a son.” 10 And not only this, but when Rebecca also had conceived by one man, even by our father Isaac --Romans 9:6-10
Paul is saying here that there is a difference between the physical seed of Abraham and the spiritual seed. Just because they were physically of Abraham did not necessarily mean they were spiritually of Abraham. God did not base His election on the physical. Not all who are from Abraham are of Abraham...look at Ishmael...he rejected God's word...did it make God's word of no effect? The same is true for Esau. Just because Abraham's physical descendants had rejected God word that did not nullify His word. Within the nation of Israel God always has a true believing remnant. Jon Courson explains it this way...not all Christians...those of us who name the name of Christ are all believers. Some are not born again or governed by God...just as many in Israel were not governed by God.
(for the children not yet being born, nor having done any good or evil, that the purpose of God according to election might stand, not of works but of Him who calls), it was said to her, “The older shall serve the younger.”13 As it is written, “Jacob I have loved, but Esau I have hated.”--Romans 9:11-13
It is also does not say anything about us. It is not of works but of Him who calls so the purposes of God according to election might stand. God freely chooses to save whom He wills...It is His goodness and mercy in saving us...it is not based on our physical lineage or our personal merit. Romans 9:13 refers to the election of nations... not individuals, specifically Israel and Edom. God’s election of Israel does not depend on human merit. Their disobedience then, cannot nullify the elective purposes of God. God is faithful even though His people are unfaithful.
So much to think about here...was God right in choosing Jacob instead of Esau? In His sovereignty God chose Jacob. He chose Jacob because He loved Him. Did this choice exclude Esau from choosing to know and love God. No, it did not. Do I really understand...nope. When I don't understand, I remember what kind of God I serve. He is faithful, sovereign, good, and is working all things together for good for those who love Him. We may not understand His choices, but we can understand that all He does for us comes from His heart of love for us. Jeremiah 29:11 says this: "For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, says the LORD, thoughts of peace and not of evil, to give you a future and a hope"
Love
Mom
