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Romans 11:11-12
God spoke to Abraham in Genesis 17:4 (NKJV) proclaiming, “As for Me, behold, My covenant is with you, and you shall be a father of many nations.” Paul teaches us in 1 Corinthians 1:22-23 (HCSB), “For the Jews ask for signs and the Greeks seek wisdom, but we preach Christ crucified, a stumbling block to the Jews and foolishness to the Gentiles.” The Apostle Paul tells us that as the Jews became blinded to their faith in God by putting their faith in themselves, God opened salvation to the Gentile nations through Christ Jesus. This was not a result of a nation (Jews) failing to eternal loss, but God’s great plan of salvation for all the world which fulfills the covenant God made to Abraham in Genesis 17:4 and provokes the Jews to a jealous return to God. In showing the importance of the role of the Jews to the world in God’s great plan of salvation for all humanity, Paul teaches us in Romans 11:12 (NKJV), “Now if their fall is riches for the world, and their failure riches for the Gentiles, how much more their fullness!”
This is a promise that God has not forgotten the nation of Israel and their importance in being God’s example to the world.
The Israelites were not and are not perfect. But neither are any of us. But God allows us to fall/make mistakes along the path of our lives so that we, and others may learn from our mistakes and grow closer to Him through the humility that we gain from our mistakes. This also shows us, and reminds us of our reliance on Him through our Savior Jesus– the one who is sinless – and died in our place on the cross so that we may live through what He has done for us in paying our debt to sin. Through faith in Christ Jesus, we are all God’s children and descendants of Abraham as Paul has taught us in Romans 4:13-25. For being God’s example to the world, as Paul states in Romans 11:12c, “how much more their fullness!”
Dear LORD,
Thank You for giving us the example of the Israelites that we may learn from them of our need for forgiveness through salvation in Christ Jesus, whom You sent to save the world from sin that we may be adopted into your eternal family and through faith be descendants of Abraham – in Christ. In Jesus name I pray, amen.