Israels Rejection was for Gods Glorification

Through out chapter 11 we have seen how God set Israel aside.

Often times this must happen because when we stray away from God, He puts us on the sidelines to help get our spirits right.

Here in Chapter 11 we see that His putting Israel aside is only: Partial, Passing, and as we will see today Purposeful.

God set them aside in order to bring salvation to the Gentiles, to make Israel jealous of them so that they would yearn to receive the blessings of the Messiah they had rejected, and thereby be used to bring blessing to the rest of the World.

But Gods ultimate, overriding purpose is to glorify Himself.

To Glorify Gods Sovereignty (vv 25-26a)

How many times have we asked the question “why would God let this happen”?

I’ve asked my self this on multiple occasions.

God has sovereign control over everything on and in this world, and always has.

God can make anyone new, His saving grace is extended everyone and will never lose its power.

He wants everyone to make the choice to follow Him.

2 Corinthians 4:15 ESV

15 For it is all for your sake, so that as grace extends to more and more people it may increase thanksgiving, to the glory of God.

Once we know that God is sovereign, that He has a plan for our lives, this brings a piece into our lives that no matter what we go through, no matter how hard things get He does everything for our benefit.

Romans 8:28 ESV

28 And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose.

We must trust God even in the times of not understanding because He is sovereign and has a perfect plan for us.

To Glorify Gods Integrity (vv 26b-29)

Once God says He will do something He will not and cannot go back on it.

Scripture is full of affirmations of Gods utter truthfulness and trustworthiness.

Numbers 23:19 ESV

19 God is not man, that he should lie, or a son of man, that he should change his mind. Has he said, and will he not do it? Or has he spoken, and will he not fulfill it?

If God says He will do something then it is a promise not a hope.

God will never lie or fail to fulfill a promise.

Hebrews 10:23 ESV

23 Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for he who promised is faithful.

We can live a confident life knowing that when God makes a promise He will be faithful to fulfill it.

To Glorify Gods Generosity (vv 30-32)

How can a God be both Sovereign and Generous at the same time.

It’s simple He does not have to show us or anyone generosity because we are all guilty of sin and deserve death and hell.

The word here for mercy is eleeo which carries the basic idea of having a compassion for those in need that leads to meeting their need.

To want to meet the need of someone we must first be driven to want to meet that need.

Because mans greatest need is to have his sins removed and be given spiritual life.

Psalm 86:5 ESV

5 For you, O Lord, are good and forgiving, abounding in steadfast love to all who call upon you.

Are we to the point in our lives where we can do what it says in:

Psalm 136:1 ESV

1 Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good, for his steadfast love endures forever.

No matter what comes our way God is still good because He is sovereign, He has integrity, He is Generous, and He is incomprehensible.

To Glorify Gods Incomprehensibility (vv 33-36)

We will never understand the ways of God.

Even if He came down sat with us and told us everything that happens in our lives and why it happens we still would not understand it.

Here Paul says that Gods ways are unfathomable. The word translates anexichniastos which literally refers to footprints that are untrackable.

This is where trust comes into play.

We must trust God to be faithful to His word and to allow Him to guide our lives.