Israel, a Chosen People
“I ask, then, has God rejected His people? By no means! … God has not rejected His people whom He foreknew.”
Romans 11:1-2
In light of all that has recently happened in Israel, it’s important for me to write to you a reminder of the place of Israel in the purposes of God. It’s very important to remember that the conflict now erupting into full view of the world is as ancient a conflict as exists in the world. The struggle between Israel and the native people of Palestine, goes all the way back to biblical times of Israel struggling in armed battle with the Philistines. The struggle way back then was between basically the same two groups of people over the same piece of land.
The question that should arise in all our minds is, “How can the Jewish people still exist as the same Jewish people so many thousands of years later?” The Philistines, the Babylonians, the Assyrians, the Greeks, the Romans, etc. are all ancient history now. The people groups exist by hereditary line, but the cultures, customs, and religions have long since faded away. But not so with the Jews. They still exist as they basically did thousands and thousands of years ago, on the same land, and as a nation. There is much that could be said concerning the history of Zionism and the founding of modern Israel, but the basis of this modern and enduring existence is Romans 11. In Romans 11 Paul spends an entire chapter explaining how the “the gifts and the calling of God are irrevocable” (Romans 11:29). By walking through this chapter, we get a basic understanding of how, even in the post-resurrection church age, the people of Israel are still a chosen people. They will endure, by promise, until Jesus comes again. There is plenty of mystery here, but there is a basic reality that God will never allow this chosen people to be destroyed. He has purposes yet to save many of them for His glory. Let’s briefly walk through this chapter.
- (v. 1-2) Paul makes clear that in adding/opening the salvation of God to gentile nations, He has not rejected His people, Israel.
- (v. 3-6) Reference is made to the days of Elijah, when Elijah felt utterly alone – thinking he was the last godly person alive! This was false. God reminded Elijah, and Paul is reminding the reader here, that though most Jews had rejected Jesus as the Messiah, there was a “remnant” of Jews that did believe. Those Jews who were being saved, were not being saved by the law but by grace through Jesus as Savior. These Jews were being saved by grace in the same manner as Gentiles.
- (v. 7-10) Those whose obtained salvation were of the elect, those chosen of God. This points to the reality that those who were saved from the Jewish nation were not those of standing, or those of highest education, or hardest working, or from the right family – the salvation of God is always unconditional. We bring nothing to God that can commend ourselves to Him. We bring our sins, and He is willing to forgive by grace – Jew or gentile.
- (v. 11-16) Paul speaks to the trespass of the Jews (the crucifixion of Jesus, the Son of God) as opening salvation to the gentile world. But he does not give up hope for the salvation of more Jews. In a way similar to the past rebellion of the Jewish nation, the Lord never gives up seeking after this special people He has put His favor and promises upon. Paul indicates that the salvation of Gentiles through Jesus will cause some of the Jews to look again at the claims and promises of Jesus. But the salvation coming to Gentiles is not a new salvation. The covenant promises made to the Jews are the “root” of our salvation. This “root” grows up and is fulfilled and completed in the life and ministry of Jesus. What was symbol, becomes reality. What was hoped for is fulfilled. There is continuity between the covenant promises made to the Jews and the salvation extended to Gentile people in Christ.
- (v. 17-24) This section speaks to our attitude toward the Jewish nation. Not all of the Jewish nation will be saved by grace, but still they are a favored and chosen people. Paul uses the language of “branches broken off” as the unbelieving Jews removed from the Kingdom of God, making room on the trunk for Gentiles to be added into the salvation of God. However, those who have been added in must not be arrogant, but thankful. We must not be spiteful toward the Jews, but thankful that we have been included in the promises and choosing that were at first exclusive. The later portion of this section speaks with hope of unbelieving Jews being brought again into the salvation of God. These later believing Jews are spoken of as “natural branches” grafted back into the salvation of God.
- (v. 25-32) There has been a “partial hardening” of Israel while many Gentiles are brought to salvation. The indication is that when the full number of Gentiles chosen of God for salvation has come, there will be a fresh wave of Jews brought to salvation – and then the end of all things will come. We should consider Jews “beloved for the sake of their forefathers” (v28b). We remain hopeful, like the Apostle Paul, that unbelieving Jews will one day recognize Jesus as the Messiah. We pray that one day this chosen and favored people will look up from the law, culture, and rituals to see Jesus for who He is – and believe!
- (v. 33-36) This closing doxology recognizes the mystery of what is at work, but praises God for His salvation!
The conclusion of these things is that the conflict in the middle east is not between two morally equivalent people groups warring for land and resources. This struggle has much larger spiritual realities at work. There is spiritual warfare at hand in this conflict. Hamas – as agents of militant Islam – have attacked Israel. These two groups are locked in an irreconcilable struggle with spiritual dimensions. As Christians we must side with Israel. We must recognize God’s preserving graces over the Jewish people. Though we pray for the salvation of Jew and Muslim alike, we must never side against the chosen people of the Lord.
Oh, the depth of the riches and the wisdom and the knowledge of God,
Pastor Vic