Sunday 6 October, 2013

25 Brothers and sisters, here is a mystery I want you to understand. It will keep you from being proud. Part of Israel has refused to obey God. That will continue until the full number of non-Jews has entered God’s kingdom. 26 And so all Israel will be saved. It is written, “The One who saves will come from Mount Zion. He will remove sin from Jacob. 27 Here is my covenant with them. I will take away their sins.” (Isaiah 59:20,21; 27:9; Jeremiah 31:33,34) 28 As far as the good news is concerned, the people of Israel are enemies. That is for your good. But as far as God’s choice is concerned, the people of Israel are loved. That is because of God’s promises to the founders of our nation. 29 God does not take back his gifts. He does not change his mind about those he has chosen. 30 At one time you did not obey God. But now you have received mercy because Israel did not obey. 31 In the same way, Israel has not been obeying God. But now they receive mercy because of God’s mercy to you. 32 God has found everyone guilty of not obeying him. So now he can have mercy on everyone. 33 How very rich are God’s wisdom and knowledge! How he judges is more than we can understand! The way he deals with people is more than we can know! 34 “Who can ever know what is in the Lord’s mind? Or who can ever give him advice?” (Isaiah 40:13) 35 “Has anyone ever given anything to God, so that God has to pay him back?” (Job 41:11) 36 All things come from him. All things are directed by him. All things are for his good. May God be given the glory forever! Amen.

The Apostle Paul opened the mystery of God's salvation plan: When the full number of the Gentiles has come in, all Israel will be saved.  But the question/problem is how? How to make them (Gentiles and Jews) all to be saved?  Well, God has bound everyone over to disobedience (all have sinned). So, just like the Gentiles were disobedient to God and have now received mercy as a result of the Jew’s disobedience, so the Jews too have now become disobedient in order that they too may now receive mercy as a result of God’s mercy to the Gentiles.

No wonder, Paul made such great psalm to praise the Lord when he discovered God’s salvation plan. “Oh, the depth of the riches of the wisdom and knowledge of God …… For from him and through him and for him are all things. To him be the glory forever! Amen.”

The challenge of this passage to me is: Do I have full faith in Him and believe His plan will never fail.

Dear Lord, there is no one like You. You are the Alpha. You are the Omega. Your gifts and calling are irrevocable.  Amen

Written by Allen Leu