What About Israel?
Adapted from a study by Warren Wiresbe
Romans 9:1-13
I. A Faithless People (vv. 1-5)
A. Paul’s burden
1.His heart for Israel
2.His hurt for Israel
B. Israel’s benefits
1.The production of the written Word
2.The promise of the Living Word
II. A Faithful God (vv. 6-13)
A. Not because of who they were
B. Not because of what they did
C. But, because of God’s purposes
More to Consider
As we have seen, the Apostle Paul prayed for the salvation of Israel, and this should be a continual prayer of the Church today. The psalmist also declares, “pray for the peace of Jerusalem: ‘May they prosper that love you’” (Psalm 122:6). Ultimately, we know peace will only come to Jerusalem when the Messiah returns. Until then we pray for the peace that the gospel brings into the Land of Israel by transforming hearts and minds. However, there are additional practical ways we can pray for Israel. We can pray for safety and security of those in the Land, we can pray for the leaders and government of Israel, particularly with regard to those who actively hinder the spread of the gospel in Israel. The Church should intercede that media coverage about Israel would be true; far too often, nefarious lies are told that cast Israel in a bad light. We should also pray for the governments of our own countries to be fair in their dealing with Israel. These are just a few ways we can bless Israel through intercessory prayer.
Thomas Fretwell, Why Israel: Understanding God’s Plan for Israel & the Nations.
But in spite of their blessings, Israel failed. When the Messiah appeared, Israel rejected Him and crucified Him. No one knew this better than Paul, because in his early days he had persecuted the church. Does Israel’s failure mean that God’s Word has failed? (The Greek word translated “taken none effect” pictures a ship going off its course.) The answer is, “No! God is faithful no matter what men may do with His Word.” Here Paul explains the basis for Israel’s election.
Warren W. Wiersbe, The Bible Exposition Commentary, vol. 1 (Wheaton, IL: Victor Books, 1996), 543.
The apostle Paul tells us, “For I could wish that I myself were cursed and cut off from Christ for the sake of my brothers, those of my own race, the people of Israel. Theirs is the adoption as sons; theirs the divine glory, the covenants, the receiving of the law, the temple worship and the promises. Theirs are the patriarchs, and from them is traced the human ancestry of Christ, who is God over all, forever praised!” (Romans 9:3-5). The truth is that the world hates the Jews because the world hates God. The Jews were God’s firstborn, His chosen people (Deuteronomy 14:2). Through the Jewish patriarchs, the prophets, and the temple, God used the Jews to bring forth His Word, the Law, and morality to a world of sin. He sent forth His son, Jesus the Christ, in a Jewish body to redeem the world of sin. Satan, the prince of the earth (John 14:30; Ephesians 2:2), has poisoned the minds of men with his hatred of the Jews. See Revelation 12 for an allegorical depiction of Satan’s (the dragon’s) hatred of the Jewish nation (the woman).
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