The Lump and the Olive Tree
Romans 11:11-15
With the business of everyday life, it is very easy, through our selfishness, to forget the truths of God himself. This is especially true if we are not in His Word receiving renewal every day and then meditating upon His Truths. In today’s passage, God reminds us of a few of His attributes and their side effects.
The first side effect is God’s timing is always perfect, vs. 25. God is now building the church through the Gentiles and will continue to do so until the age of the Gentiles is fulfilled. When the time is perfect, God will once again use the Jews to do great and mighty things. I am also reminded of the account of Elijah and the widow, I Kings 17.
The next two are closely related. God is always true to His promises, vs. 26, and Israel shall be redeemed one day. This passage is from Is. 59 and talks of the great salvation the Israelites along with Zech. 12, 13 which even carries the idea that the whole nation at that time will turn back to God. His promise is followed by His covenant, vs. 27, 28. A covenant is a binding agreement between two or more people. God made a covenant with Israel, Genesis 12, and He will follow through even though His people have turned away.
Paul now focuses on a few of God’s attributes. We would have none of the afore mentioned if it was not for God’s nature, vs. 29. God cannot lie and He does not change, Mal. 3:6, Num. 23:19. God is also a God of grace, vs. 30-32. He is yearning to pour out His grace upon mankind, Eph 2:8, 9, Rom 10:13. God also cannot be separated from His wisdom, vs. 33-36. Only a God as wise as our God can take a fallen people and turn it into the salvation of the entire world. Praise the Lord today for who He is and search out scripture to find Him more fully.