I posted my lessons in the wrong order!! Yesterday's post should have been 8,and I called it 8, but it was actually on the passage from Lesson 9! I'm so sorry about the mix up. I've edited that post's title so it's correct now. And here's the real Lesson 8!
Today's Scripture passage is Romans 11: 1 - 10 ...
I ask, then, has God rejected his own people, the nation of Israel? Of course not! I myself am an Israelite, a descendant of Abraham and a member of the tribe of Benjamin. 2 No, God has not rejected his own people, whom he chose from the very beginning. Do you realize what the Scriptures say about this? Elijah the prophet complained to God about the people of Israel and said, 3 “Lord, they have killed your prophets and torn down your altars. I am the only one left, and now they are trying to kill me, too.” 4 And do you remember God’s reply? He said, “No, I have 7,000 others who have never bowed down to Baal!” 5 It is the same today, for a few of the people of Israel have remained faithful because of God’s grace—his undeserved kindness in choosing them. 6 And since it is through God’s kindness, then it is not by their good works. For in that case, God’s grace would not be what it really is—free and undeserved. 7 So this is the situation: Most of the people of Israel have not found the favor of God they are looking for so earnestly. A few have—the ones God has chosen—but the hearts of the rest were hardened. 8 As the Scriptures say, “God has put them into a deep sleep. To this day he has shut their eyes so they do not see, and closed their ears so they do not hear.” 9 Likewise, David said, “Let their bountiful table become a snare, a trap that makes them think all is well. Let their blessings cause them to stumble, and let them get what they deserve. 10 Let their eyes go blind so they cannot see, and let their backs be bent forever.”
Aren't you glad that God isn't like people??
In the previous chapter, Paul was pointing out that the Jews had rejected God by rejecting His Son, and that as a result the way was now open for the Gentiles to enter into that special relationship with the Father that the nation of Israel had previously enjoyed. So it would be fairly logical for us and the Jewish people to assume that as a result they had been rejected by God. After all, isn't that what we do to people who shun us, hurt us, or belittle us??!!
But God, in His great and unfailing love says (through Paul): "Of course not!"
In Psalm 91, David says it this way: "The Lord says, “I will rescue those who love Me. I will protect those who trust in My name."
And this promise is good news not only for the nation of Israel, but for all of the people of God. Though He may withdraw His presence or His blessing for a time as a consequence of our sin or rebellion, and though there may be times of disciplining required, the Lord will never cast off forever those He has redeemed by His blood and called by His Spirit.
"God doesn't leave any of us despairing our inadequacy. Nothing is required of us. It's all by His grace." Jen Stanbro
Photo credit: Wham 3622