So, am I saying that Israel stumbled so badly that they will never get back up? Certainly not! Rather, it was because of their stumble that salvation now extends to all the non-Jewish people, in order to make Israel jealous and desire the very things that God has freely given them.

Romans 11:11 

 

Let’s desire the very things that God has freely given

 

So, am I saying that Israel stumbled—yes, they did. They were promised the Messiah, they waited for salvation for several centuries, yet, finally when Jesus came, they could not accept Him because of their prejudices. ….

,There were several groups, the Sadducees, the Pharisees, the high priests, the Zealots , and so many other groups of people , who were waiting and expecting, even kings and noble women, were expecting that Jesus would be born in such a such a way. 

 

Contrary to all their expectations, He chose a manger, isolated, ..abandoned..that’s where He chose to be born. 

 

Ant that was something that they could not accept (comprehend). Not only that, His teachings were extremely revolutionary, ….kind of contradicting to the existing rigid religious institution. 

 

He was interpreting everything anew. “It was said so and so and so, but now I say to you this way.” Jesus’ way was entirely new. ….They could not even comprehend. They opposed, and not only that, they joined hands with the Romans and executed Him, thinking that they were doing something good. Alas, they harmed themselves by doing that. …

 

…So badly that they would never get back up? Paul is saying, “Am I saying that?” “Certainly not!”, he says, “Rather, it was because of their stumble , that salvation now extends to all the non-Jewish people.” That is the beauty of the gospel. ….Since the chosen people rejected the gospel, God gave that to those people who they thought they were not part of,(worthy) or not the ones who would inherit. 

 

When Jesus tells about the story of the  wedding banquet, those who were invited had excuses for not attending. ...Whereas, those who were never imagined or thought of —those on the streets, those sinners, women and prostitutes—they are the ones who, Jesus said, were and would be in the first in the Kingdom of God.

 

Why does God do that? That is His way. His ways are different. …..

 

We cannot comprehend. “The way you see things are not the way I see things. Your ways are far, far away from My Way.” That is how God explains His way. The stone that the builders reject would be the stone that He will keep as a corner stone, and on top of that He would build His church. 

 

 

Why does He do that? “in order to make Israel jealous”

Yes, anyone has to be jealous of the gospel, of the believer, of the faith a minister or a congregation, sincerely devoted to and practicing Jesus’ good news.

 

 

“and desire the very things that God has freely given them.”

—Yes, it’s really a pity, abandoning, rejecting, not sufficiently appreciating the very things that God has freely given them, …it might apply to you and me, too.

 

Abba, help us desire the very things that God has freely given us. Let Your Spirit give us strength so that we may never stumble badly, In Jesus’ Most Powerful Name, Amen.