“Aug 30, 2024 - The Genius of God”

Thursday, August 29, 2024

The Genius of God

Reading:  Romans 11:25-36
    
    Here Paul summarizes his teaching about the current state of Israel, his hopes for the future, and the God who has made all of this possible.  “Lest you be wise in your own sight, I do not want you to be unaware of this mystery, brothers:  a partial hardening has come upon Israel, until the fullness of the Gentiles has come in.  And in this way all Israel will be saved”(Rom 11:25-26).  Since many Jews have rejected the gospel, Paul and others have gone to the Gentiles, who have been grafted into the “olive tree” of God’s people (Rom 11:17-24).  “In this way all Israel will be saved” does not mean that Paul anticipates God throwing out his message and simply saving unbelieving Jews.  God will fulfill his promises to save Israel, but it will happen in this way:  as a group of spiritual Israelites, people who believe in his Son, comprised of both Jews and Gentiles.  Paul simply hopes that as more Gentiles come to faith, Jews will be moved to jealousy and join them.  His stubborn hope for them is not merely personal, but is because “they are beloved for the sake of their forefathers” and because “the gifts and calling of God are irrevocable”(Rom 11:28, 29).  God still loves and will accept them.

    Paul sees a final irony here:  that Jews and Gentiles seem to have switched places from disobedient to receiving mercy (Rom 11:30-31).  “For God has consigned all to disobedience, that he may have mercy on all”(Rom 11:32).  Now all people are united by their experience in sin and need for the mercy of God.  Paul steps back from these considerations and marvels:  “Oh, the depth of the riches and wisdom and knowledge of God!  How unsearchable are his judgments and how inscrutable his ways!”(Rom 11:33).  God cannot be predicted or put in a box; he will keep his word yet continually surprise us.  God is genius.

    For centuries the Jewish people anticipated the coming of Messiah, who would deliver Israel.  Paul argues that Messiah has come and has begun that deliverance through death, resurrection, and spiritual rebirth.  Israel’s deliverance has also included the participation of non-Jews who have submitted to Messiah’s reign.  It is no surprise that many were caught flat-footed by this transition.  God’s genius humbles us.  We should not expect to always grasp his goals and plans, yet we can trust that he has a plan that is always for our good.

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One Thing to Think About:  Am I amazed at the brilliance of God?

One Thing to Pray For:   Gratitude that God has revealed his mind to us
 

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