Romans 11:1-10

Sermon

Verse 1 - Right off the bat, we hit the main question. Has God forsaken Israel?

I think many of you resignate with that. Has God forsaken you?

This was the question for Israel in Egypt. After all those years in captivity, where are you God?

Walk through the text

Explain why this is so big: All that time in the O.T., God kept saying these are his people. It feels like now he is shucking them and going after gentiles.

Questions to ponder:

Has God rejected or forsaken me?

Or maybe is God far from me?

V1a

No. This question is being asked because of you. It is highly applicable, because you are the reason the Israelites are questioning if God is forsaking them. No he is coming after you.

It seems God is leaving behind the Jews and going after the Gentiles. Ie you.

In the story of the 99 sheep and the 1, you are the one he’s going after.

So why do I feel far from God?

V1b-2

Sometimes God is working where we cannot see. We still have to remain faithful to him.

Paul’s life is a testimony of the mysterious nature of God. God working behind the scenes even when the person doesn’t know it or even want him to.

So what should I do when I don’t feel God?

2b-7

Wait faithfully. Be faithful.

This whole thing amounts to there only being a remnant that waited faithfully for God to help them understand. The rest gave up and worshipped other gods.

Exegete