Gods Purpose in Israels Rejection

Often times I think we have an unclear or unrealized picture of God

We think that He does not control everything or that things catch Him by surprise.

However this is simply not the case, He created everything and knew us before the foundations of the world were ever set.

The longer your married to someone the better you know them.

Just think how well God knows us when because He’s known us since before the world was created.

God does nothing haphazardly or out of jealousy, but everything He does is to bring Glory to Himself and to draw people to himself.

God Used Their Rejection To Win The Gentiles (vv 11-15)

He used their fall to evangelize the Gentiles (v 11)

Paul here is not speaking about the minority that received Christ, but of the majority that rejected Christ.

Their rejection resulted in their fall, or rejection by God.

God does not reject man; but rather man rejects God.

Did they fall to never rise again No

Did their fall alter His purpose concerning salvation for all creatures and creation?

NO God used their fall to evangelize Gentiles.

Paul had seen God use Israels fall to evangelize Gentiles in city after city of the Roman Empire.

The early Christians were so filled with the Spirit that they could not refrain from preaching Christ:

Resurrected

Reigning

and Some day Returning.

The Jews refused to hear the Gospel and turned else where.

The result were jealousy and hatred from the Jews.

For example Acts 22:21-24

Acts 22:21–24 ESV

21 And he said to me, ‘Go, for I will send you far away to the Gentiles.’ ” 22 Up to this word they listened to him. Then they raised their voices and said, “Away with such a fellow from the earth! For he should not be allowed to live.” 23 And as they were shouting and throwing off their cloaks and flinging dust into the air, 24 the tribune ordered him to be brought into the barracks, saying that he should be examined by flogging, to find out why they were shouting against him like this.

The Jews did not want Christ as a savior, but they did not the Gentiles to receive His salvation neither.

However God is sovereign and Israel will see her restoration Because God will keep His word.

He uses their fullness to enrich Gentiles (vv 12-15)

If from there rejection we recieved our salvation what then will be the reward when Israel is restored and follows God again?

The restoration of Israel will happen but not until after the great tribulation.

Isaiah 11:9 ESV

9 They shall not hurt or destroy in all my holy mountain; for the earth shall be full of the knowledge of the Lord as the waters cover the sea.

During this time in history everything will be restored on earth like it was when it was new and first created.

God Used Their Rejection to Warn The Gentiles (vv 16-24)

Individuals quickly forget.

Soon the Gentiles Christians were in danger of falling into the same sins that had caused Israels rejection.

Just when we think we are good and better than others thats when we start to take our eyes off God.

God used Israel to warn them against racial pride (vv 16-19)

For years Israel looked down on other nations saying they were not good enough or not worthy of salvation.

God intended for Israel to be a shining light to other countries that they might bring others to Him.

They would see the blessings of Israel and want the same things and in turn follow God.

Israel should have been the poster Nation for following God and having His blessings.

But rather than use His blessings and power for good and for His glory they used it to look down on and to set themselves above everyone else.

People who use Christianity as a weapon rather than a cure are outside the will of God and often do more harm to the kingdom of God than they ever do good for it.

God used Israel to warn them against religious pride (vv 20-24)

To many times we as christians get to comfortable about our buildings and standing before God and we become prideful about it.

We should always stay humble and thankful for what we have as a chruch and remember why its here.

Its not a monument to the churches success but a light house for the lost.

Just because one chruch is bigger than another does not mean its better.

The same God should be the head of both the big and the small chruch.

Fear here means not to be afraid of God but we should have a reverent love and respect for Him because He can do the same thing to us that He did to Israel.

God also promises restoration to Israel

Nothing on this earth is beyond restoration.

Gods power is greater than anything in this world.