God Has Not Been Unfaithful to His Promises to Israel (Romans 9:1-29)

"It is not as though God’s word had failed…" Romans 9:6 (NIV)

Context

Let’s review Paul’s explanation of the gospel in Romans 1-8:

• Romans 1:1-17 - The gospel is God’s power of salvation: righteousness for all who believe!
• Romans 1:18-32 - This power is needed because all humanity is under God’s wrath for unrighteousness.
• Romans 2:1-3:20 - This includes those who knew about God’s requirements from the Law - all have failed to meet its righteous standard.
• Romans 3:21-31 - But now, God’s righteousness is available apart from the Law, to all who believe.
• Romans 4:1-25 - Righteousness has always been credited this way, as seen in the examples of Abraham and David.
• Romans 5:1-8:39 - By identification with Christ and his death, we die to sin and the law and live according to the Spirit.

At this point in the letter, the question on many readers' minds must be, “If this is the gospel, then what about the promises God made to the nation of Israel, recorded in the Old Testament? Have they failed? Did God lie to them?” It is to this question that Paul turns in Romans 9-11.

The key to understanding his emphatic belief that God HAS NOT been unfaithful to Israel will be in noticing and interpreting his extensive citation of the Hebrew Scriptures. And especially, that foremost in Paul’s mind is God’s revelation of mercy as essential to his character (after the Israelites sinned by worshipping the golden calf in Exodus 32).

• Exodus 33:19 - And the Lord said, “I will cause all my goodness to pass in front of you, and I will proclaim My name, the Lord, in your presence. I will have mercy on whom I will have mercy, and I will have compassion on whom I will have compassion.”
• Exodus 34:5-7 - Then the Lord came down in the cloud and stood there with him and proclaimed His name, the Lord. And He passed in front of Moses, proclaiming, “The Lord, the Lord, the compassionate and gracious God, slow to anger, abounding in love and faithfulness, maintaining love to thousands, and forgiving wickedness, rebellion and sin. Yet he does not leave the guilty unpunished; he punishes the children and their children for the sin of the parents to the third and fourth generation.”

Observation

Paul begins this section with an emotional outburst, affirming his desire that his people—the Jews—be joined with him in Christ (9:1-5).

He then goes on to quote the Old Testament extensively to prove his statement: “It is not as though God’s word had failed. For not all who are descended from Israel are Israel” (Romans 9:6). He explains:

1. God’s people (called Israel) have never been a people based on biological descent or human works.

• Example 1: Isaac and Ishmael (Genesis 18:10 and 21:10-12)
• Example 2: Jacob and Esau (Genesis 25:19-28 and Malachi 1:2-3)

2. God has always been a God of mercy.

• Depicted in his response to the golden calf. (Exodus 33:12-34:9)

3. As the Creator of all things, God has the freedom to do what He wants with His creation.

• Illustration 1: Pharaoh (Exodus 9:13-16)
• Illustration 2: Potter and clay (Isaiah 29:15-16; 45:9-13; 64:8 and Jeremiah 18:1-11)

4. The prophets predicted that God would graft Gentiles into Israel as part of the remnant of his people.

• Hosea foresaw this (Hosea 2:23 and 1:10)
• As did Isaiah (Isaiah 10:20-23 and 1:9)

Interpretation

Until this point in the letter, Paul has deliberately depicted the similarity of the situation in which both Jews and Gentiles find themselves. After reading Romans 1-8, why might some readers start questioning God’s faithfulness to the Jewish people and His promises to them in the Old Testament?

To respond to this concern, Paul quotes passage after passage. He does so with one main intention: to demonstrate God’s faithful character and his consistency in Old and New Covenants. God’s revelation of Himself to Moses as a God of mercy, grace, compassion, and faithfulness (from Exodus 33:12-34:9) is the key to understanding Paul’s argument. In response to humanity’s rejection of Him, God has consistently been faithful to preserve a remnant chosen because He loves to extend mercy.

As you read through the Old Testament examples in Romans 9:1-29, consider how each demonstrates the consistency of God’s character over the ages. Additionally, how does each one evidence His mercy?

According to Paul, who is the “remnant of Israel” to whom God shows mercy? How do the predictions of Hosea and Isaiah inform this conclusion?

Application

What do you identify as the primary attribute of God? How does viewing God through that lens affect your relationship with Him?

God’s view of Himself (and Paul’s too) is that He is a God of mercy, first and foremost. Earlier, in Romans 2:4 Paul wrote of “the riches of his kindness,” which is “intended to lead you to repentance.” Take some time to identify instances of God’s kindness and mercy towards you. Is there anything His kindness is leading you to repent of today?