11 “In that case, I say, isn’t it that they have stumbled with the result that they have permanently fallen away?” Heaven forbid! Quite the contrary, it is by means of their stumbling that the deliverance has come to the Gentiles, in order to provoke them to jealousy.[Romans 11:11 Deuteronomy 32:21] 12 Moreover, if their stumbling is bringing riches to the world — that is, if Isra’el’s being placed temporarily in a condition less favored than that of the Gentiles is bringing riches to the latter — how much greater riches will Isra’el in its fullness bring them!
25 For, brothers, I want you to understand this truth which God formerly concealed but has now revealed, so that you won’t imagine you know more than you actually do. It is that stoniness, to a degree, has come upon Isra’el, until the Gentile world enters in its fullness; 26 and that it is in this way that all Isra’el will be saved. As the Tanakh says,
“Out of Tziyon will come the Redeemer;
he will turn away ungodliness from Ya‘akov
27 and this will be my covenant with them, . . .
when I take away their sins.”[Romans 11:27 Isaiah 59:20–21, 27:9]
28 With respect to the Good News they are hated for your sake. But with respect to being chosen they are loved for the Patriarchs’ sake, 29 for God’s free gifts and his calling are irrevocable.
Common of the Blessed Virgin Mary
The story of the Jews and their walk with God takes place over thousands of years. When you consider their part in God’s plan and the many ways in which they contributed to his plan of salvation, the sheer scope is awe inspiring. All of those moments throughout history when God spoke to them or acted through them—Abraham, Moses, Elijah, Joseph, and Mary—lead toward the singular remarkable occurrence of God becoming man.
And right at this moment, at the pinnacle of the long journey toward salvation for all, the Jews seem to stumble. Many of them failed to recognize the Messiah, and some even pushed the Romans to execute him!
But whether or not their actions were in line with God’s wishes, here we see the firmness of his purpose, as well as his astounding wisdom. No matter how difficult we make it for him, he can use even our failures and blunders. In this case, God turned the error of the Jewish leaders on its head and used it as a tool to bring his salvation and love to everyone. If they had not handed Jesus over, there would be no cross—and no resurrection!
We might not always get it right either. Even when we think we are following God’s plan—as the Jewish leaders no doubt thought—we make mistakes. But the good news is that whether we meant to turn away from God or not, he has a way of using even our mistakes and failings for good. So when we slip up, we shouldn’t think that all is lost. God can redeem every situation, as well as every person!
What a comforting thought to take with us when we get caught up worrying about past missteps! And let it be a reminder to help us look at everyone as God does: not perfect, but still a part of his plan, still having the potential to do great things for him. His mercy should be both an encouragement and an example for us!
“Lord, I thank you for your great plan and your infinite forgiveness. Help me to follow your will for me, and give me a generous spirit to see everyone as you see them.” Amen!
Psalm 94:12 How happy the man whom you correct, Yah,
whom you teach from your Torah,
13 giving him respite from days of trouble,
till a pit is dug for the wicked!
14 For Adonai will not desert his people,
he will not abandon his heritage.
15 Justice will once again become righteous,
and all the upright in heart will follow it.
17 If Adonai hadn’t helped me,
I would soon have dwelt in the land of silence.
18 When I said, “My foot is slipping!”
your grace, Adonai, supported me.
Luke 14:1 One Shabbat Yeshua went to eat in the home of one of the leading P’rushim, and they were watching him closely.
7 When Yeshua noticed how the guests were choosing for themselves the best seats at the table, he told them this parable: 8 “When you are invited by someone to a wedding feast, don’t sit down in the best seat; because if there is someone more important than you who has been invited, 9 the person who invited both of you might come and say to you, ‘Give this man your place.’ Then you will be humiliated as you go to take the least important place. 10 Instead, when you are invited, go and sit in the least important place; so that when the one who invited you comes, he will say to you, ‘Go on up to a better seat.’ Then you will be honored in front of everyone sitting with you. 11 Because everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, but everyone who humbles himself will be exalted.”
____________________________
____________________________
No comments:
Post a Comment