“Aug 19, 2024 - God Keeps His Word”

Sunday, August 18, 2024

God Keeps His Word

Reading:  Romans 9:1-13
    
    In these chapters (Rom 9-11), Paul will address one overarching concern:  how do we understand the fact that Israel has largely rejected the gospel?  For many, this situation means something has gone wrong.  If God accepts Gentiles and rejects Jews (unless they believe in Jesus), does this mean that all God’s promises to Israel are void (see Rom 9:6, 14)?  Paul begins by declaring his grief over the situation.  “I am speaking the truth in Christ—I am not lying; my conscience bears me witness in the Holy Spirit—that I have great sorrow and unceasing anguish in my heart.  For I could wish that I myself were accursed and cut off from Christ for the sake of my brothers, my kinsmen according to the flesh”(Rom 9:1-3).  It gives Paul no pleasure to see that most of his fellow Jews have rejected the gospel, yet it has to be acknowledged.  He holds out hope that this will soon change (Rom 10:1, 11:11-16).

    But Paul is quick to defend God against charges that he is breaking his promises by offering salvation to all.  “But it is not as though the word of God has failed.  For not all who are descended from Israel belong to Israel”(Rom 9:6).  He cites how promises to Abraham really apply to Isaac (not Ishmael) and Jacob (not Esau).  Did God break his word simply because some were excluded?  No.  He also points out the basis for this choosing by discussing Jacob and Esau in the womb:  “though they were not yet born and had done nothing either good or bad—in order that God’s purpose of election might continue, not because of works, but because of him who calls”(Rom 9:11).  God did not choose Jacob because he was a better man than Esau; he chose him for his own (undisclosed) reasons.  Similarly, he is free to accept “less righteous” Gentiles and exclude “righteous” Jews who refuse to believe in Jesus.

    God has a unique knack for fulfilling his promises in surprising ways.   Paul argues that when God opens salvation up to non-Jews who are “less righteous,” he is still keeping his word.  It just may look a little different than they expected.  It is helpful to see Paul’s ironclad confidence in the righteousness of God.  He always keeps his word—but almost never in a way that we anticipate.  This gives us confidence for times when we cannot see a way forward.

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One Thing to Think About:  How have I seen God work in unexpected ways?

One Thing to Pray For:  Confidence in God’s faithfulness 
 

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