Romans 11:11–12: I say then, have they stumbled that they should fall? Certainly not! But through their fall, to provoke them to jealousy, salvation has come to the Gentiles. Now if their fall is riches for the world, and their failure riches for the Gentiles, how much more their fullness!
Rejection is only partial and temporary. His question is, “Have they stumbled in such a way that they will not rise again?” The answer is an emphatic negative. Their fall has enabled God through His providence to open the gates of salvation wide to the Gentiles. The Jew will see the reality of salvation of the Gentiles, that they are experiencing the blessings of God which the Jew thought could come only to him. This should move him to emulation, not jealousy as we define it. 1
Application
- How has God used your personal failures to make you a more committed Christian?
- Can you tell someone else a story about yourself today, about how God never gave up on you, especially when you chose not to obey Him?
Prayer
Lord, thank you for never “writing me off.” You stayed with me, even though there were times when I ignored Your leadership in my life.
1. McGee, J. V. (1991). Thru the Bible commentary: The Epistles (Romans 9-16) (electronic ed., Vol. 43). Nashville: Thomas Nelson.
