Intro to Romans 9, 10 & 11; God’s promises to Israel & What has Befallen Them

About 3,844 years ago when the entire human race worshiped pagan gods, God called Abram (later Abraham) out from that morass of sin and promised him his progeny would become a great nation; He would bless those who bless him and curse those who curse him and all nations of the earth would be blessed through him, Genesis 12:1 – 3. Abram believed and did as God instructed, i.e., he obeyed in faith. God subsequently promised Abraham that if man can number the dust of the earth, thus shall his seed be numbered and they will possess the land of Canaan forever, Genesis 13:14 – 17; Genesis 15:18; Genesis 17:18; Genesis 18:18; Genesis 22:17 – 18. God promised Abraham and Sarah a son, who He delivered as Isaac who in turn begat Jacob who ultimately had to move his family to Egypt during a 7-year famine. Jacob’s son Joseph had become second in command of Egypt and controlled the food supply he stored the previous 7 years as a result of the God given ability to divine Pharaoh’s dream. However, after Joseph died Jacob’s offspring became slaves to the Egyptians and over the following 300 years or so, Israel grew to be a great Nation, numbering millions.

God referred to the Nation of Israel as His first-born Son, Exodus 4:22 – 23, having appointed Moses to lead them out of Egyptian slavery; promising they would be a Kingdom of Priests, a Holy Nation, Exodus 19:6. Later, God promised Israel’s King David that from his seed would come a King and Kingdom that will last forever, 2 Samuel 7:13 – 16; Jeremiah 33:14 -17. Jesus Christ was that promised King and He will at some time in the future, rule over Israel and all Nations of this earth forever, Luke 1:31 – 33. Zechariah prophesied that when that occurs, people of strong nations will seek and pray to the Lord in Jerusalem and 10 men out of all nations will tag along with a Jew because God is with him, Zechariah 8:21 – 23.

In 1948, Jews established the modern-day Nation of Israel in a small part of the total land God promised Abraham and it’s estimated that approximately 43% of the world’s Jews live there now. However, Israel is a secular nation, bearing no resemblance to a Nation exhibiting the promises just described. Thus, the logical question; after almost 2000 years, why haven’t God’s promises to Israel been fulfilled? The definitive answer to this is found in the ministry and epistles of the Apostle Paul, but unfortunately many don’t understand the distinct message the Lord Jesus Christ revealed to Paul from heaven, Romans 16:25 – 26.

Some erroneously believe Israel has been permanently set aside because of their disobedience and handing their Messiah over to the Romans to be crucified, labeling Jews as “deicides” (those who killed Jesus Christ). Many think God’s promises to Israel either are being or will be fulfilled by the so-called Christian church. The Catholic church goes so far as to claim the Apostle Peter as their first Pope. This is patently false as Scripture clearly teaches Peter was an Apostle to the Jews while Paul was to the Gentiles, Galatians 2:7 – 10.

Jesus Christ was the promised seed of Abraham who will bless the earth someday, Luke 3:34; John 8:56 – 58; He was the promised son of David who will someday rule forever on this earth with Israel literally a nation of priests, Luke 1:31 – 33. Matthew 10:6; Matthew 15:24. Peter and the other 11 Apostles will sit on 12 thrones judging the 12 Tribes of Israel just as Jesus Christ promised them, Matthew 19:28; Acts 3:21; all this will happen because God promised and He cannot lie, Titus 1:2. Before Jesus Christ was crucified, he described a Great Tribulation that will occur followed by His return to judge and rule, Matthew, chapters 24 and 25. When He ascended into heaven, His 12 Apostles asked when He would return to establish His Kingdom. He answered it was not for them to know the times or the seasons that the Father had put in His power, Acts 1:6 – 9. The Tribulation has not occurred and obviously the Lord Jesus Christ is not yet King of Kings and Lord of Lords, Revelation 19:15 – 16.

The 9^th, 10^th & 11^th chapters of Romans are a parenthesis between the first 8 chapters that present the doctrine of the Gospel of God’s Grace, while the 12^th through the 16^th chapters present practical living for believers during this age of Grace. The opening verses of chapters 9, 10 and 11 are instructive:

• Chapter 9: “I (Paul) say the truth in Christ, I lie not, my conscience also bearing me witness in the Holy Ghost, That I have great heaviness and continual sorrow in my heart. For I could wish that myself were accursed from Christ for my brethren, my kinsmen according to the flesh: Who are Israelites; to whom pertaineth the adoption, and the glory, and the covenants, and the giving of the law, and the service of God, and the promises; Whose are the fathers, and of whom as concerning the flesh Christ came, who is over all, God blessed forever. Amen.” Romans 9:1 – 5
• Chapter 10: “Brethren, my (Paul’s) heart’s desire and prayer to God for Israel is, that they might be saved. For I bear them record that they have a zeal of God, but not according to knowledge. For they being ignorant of God’s righteousness, and going about to establish their own righteousness, have not submitted themselves unto the righteousness of God. For Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to everyone that believeth. Romans 10:1 –4.
• Chapter 11: “I (Paul) say then, Hath God cast away his people? God forbid. For I also am an Israelite, of the seed of Abraham, of the tribe of Benjamin. God hath not cast away his people which he foreknew. Wot ye not what the scripture saith of Elias? how he maketh intercession to God against Israel, saying, Lord, they have killed thy prophets, and digged down thine altars; and I am left alone, and they seek my life. But what saith the answer of God unto him? I have reserved to myself seven thousand men, who have not bowed the knee to the image of Baal. Even so then at this present time also there is a remnant according to the election of grace. Romans 11:1 – 5.

In spite of the fact God’s promises to Israel have not yet come to fruition, the Nation of Israel in general and Jews in particular are amazing. They’ve stood out throughout history, and still do. At least 20% of the 900 individuals awarded Nobel prizes have been Jews, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Jewish_Nobel_laureates. Jews have been a powerful force behind governments. As previously mentioned, Jacob’s son Joseph was second in command of Egypt. Daniel was second in command in Nebuchadnezzar’s Kingdom. After King David defeated Israel’s enemies, his son Solomon was the wisest King and Ruler who ever lived.

Many Jews have been the brains behind the scene in various governments since then. Jewish bankers have financed countries and even wars; examples are Moses Montefiore born 1784, Mayer Amschel Rothchild born 1744 and his offspring. (During the 19th century the Rothschild family possessed the largest private fortune in modern world history.) In the United States today, Jews excel in many fields, including doctors, lawyers and the entertainment industry. The tiny country of Israel is a testament to ingenuity in scientific advancement in medicine, manufacturing, farming, defense, etc.

But in spite of their talents, Jews have been persecuted since before the earthly ministry of Christ, and since. Throughout the middle ages, Catholic Monarchs decreed they either recant their beliefs and be baptized or be expelled from numerous European Kingdoms; https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Expulsion_of_Jews_from_Spain with the ostensible objective to achieve unity of faith. It’s always been Satan’s design to rid the world of God’s people, an example of which was Hitler’s Holocaust. Speaking of Hitler, he based at least part of his hate for Jews on the teaching of the great protestant reformer Martin Luther, who first showed concern for their plight but later became an outspoken antisemitic when they failed to convert to Christianity.

Satan has used the human trait of envy and jealousy to incite anti-Semitism as it is natural for people to resent others who better them in performance, success and prosperousness. As to blaming them for killing Jesus; Christ Himself prayed God would forgive them because they “know not what they do,” Luke 23:34. Indeed, Christ died to fulfill God the Father’s will, Luke 22:42. We in the Body of Christ could not be saved had He not shed His blood for us, Romans 5:8 – 9; 1 Corinthians 15:1 – 4. Furthermore, Jews are no different from anyone in that “… all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God;” Romans 3:23. Therefore, each and every Jew except Jesus Christ, has been born a sinner, regardless of the fact the Nation of Israel was God’s chosen people, Romans 9:4 – 5. Today, it’s estimated that 80% of the approximately 14.5 million Jews in the world do not feel connected to their Jewish identity, https://www.breitbart.com/middle-east/2020/07/21/world-jewish-population-nearly-14-5-million-but-80-unconnected/ and only God knows how many are true believers in the Gospel of Grace, 1 Corinthians 15:1 – 4, thus being members of the Body of Christ.

And so Paul needed to explain why the promises God made to the Nation of Israel have not been fulfilled, and he did so in the 9^th, 10^th and 11^th chapters of Romans where he assured the world almost 2000 years ago that “… all Israel shall be saved: as it is written, There shall come out of Sion the Deliverer, and shall turn away ungodliness from Jacob:” Romans 11:26; Isaiah 59:20.