Tuesday, 17 December 2019

When Israel is made jealous

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The nation of Israel still counts. Paul gives us an eschatological vision of how God will deal with the situation of Israel not embracing the Messiah. Then Paul notes that the present situation of Israel's unbelief is temporary. In 11:11 he says of corporate Israel, that they did not fall in a way that is beyond recovery. Then in 11:25, he states that the present hardening is partial and temporary until something called the fullness of the Gentiles takes place. After that, Israel will turn to Yeshua and fulfill the covenant promise of Isaiah 59:20, 21, Isaiah 27:9 and Jeremiah 31:31-34. Thus all Israel will be saved (v. 26) and God will take away their sin.

This reversal for Israel will take place when they are adequately made jealous (desirous) though the witness of Jew and Gentile together. Paul states that salvation has come to the Gentiles for the purpose of making Israel jealous (11:12). Their loss meant riches for the Gentiles but their fullness (restoration) will bring much greater riches. Paul as a Jew gives the example for Jewish believers. We are to magnify the ministry, the mighty and powerful work of the Gospel with its signs and wonders. But then Gentiles are to do the same. This will cause a growing some of ethnic Israel to be saved. Then comes the amazing conclusion. "If their rejection leads to the reconciliation of the world, what will their acceptance be but life from the dead." (11:15) Most commentators believe that life from the dead is more than world revival, but that the text is speaking of the resurrection from the dead that takes place in the return of Yeshua. This fits Matthew 23:39 were Israel sees him again only after they call out to him, “Blessed is He that comes in the name of the Lord.

We return to the idea of the fullness of the Gentiles, which could connect us to Matthew 24:14, that the Gospel will be preached adequately to all nations. So the fullness can mean that the full number of Gentiles on this side of the second coming is saved. However, the word fullness can connote the same thing as the fullness in Eph. 4 where the Body of Believers is said to attain the full measure of the stature of Messiah's fullness. However, we also have to note that the Church will have to share Paul's pain at Israel's present unbelief and gain a deep heart for the salvation of Israel. The teaching of the election of Israel and Israel's ultimate salvation will be a unifying passion of the worldwide Church. So this is key to moving history to the climax of the second coming, namely that the Church including the Messianic Jews share a joint mission to see Jewish people saved so that the growing remnant of Jewish disciples of Yeshua will eventually lead to all Israel being saved.

This excerpt was taken from my article.