Romans - Part 5: ELECTIONSample

Jealousy – A Good Thing?

As I read verses 11-14 of Romans 11, it struck me as odd that Paul (and even God Himself in verse 11?) would use jealousy to draw the Jews to Himself. We don’t think of jealousy as a good thing. In fact, it’s defined as a sin in other places in the Bible. (Galatians 5:19-23 is one example.) So, is Paul saying here that the ends justify the means? Seems, on the surface at least, that we may be on shaky ground! (These are the kind of verses that I usually breeze over in my reading, thinking that someday it will be explained, but for now, I am not going to try to figure this one out! But since I was assigned this passage, now IS the day!)

When I searched for the meaning here, the picture of children came to mind. As I looked in my study, I found that Stuart Briscoe had the same thought in his commentary on Romans:

“It seems that God has to deal with His children literally as children on occasions. Most parents can remember when they have offered something to a child only to have him refuse, but when the offer has been made to a sibling, the original child has become very upset and obviously deeply regretful that he passed up the first opportunity. Paul hopes, personally, that his highly visible and highly beneficial ministry to the Gentiles will be so striking to his kinsmen that they will be attracted to what is going on in the purposes of God and be saved along with the Gentile believers.”

The Jews are not being enticed to sin as much as it is that God knows our human nature and how we think! (Psalm 103:14 says, “He knows our frame; He is mindful that we are but dust.”) Paul had taken the Good News to his own people, whom he said he would gladly die and go to hell for if it would help. (Romans 9:1-3.) But, as he repeatedly encountered their resistance, and even persecution, he finally had to take the position he spelled out to the Corinthians in Acts 18:6: “Your blood be on your own heads! I am clean. From now on I will go to the Gentiles.”

It really is a masterful plan unfolding here: God’s people will always be His special possession and there are many promises regarding them in the Old Testament. But, now we are also invited in – grafted in – to His family because of this partial hardening of their hearts. (Romans 11:25.) And yet, someday, the original part of God’s family will return to Him as well.

God is sovereign, and He is able to use both His attributes that reflect His perfection and our own imperfect human nature for His eternal purposes. Proverbs 21:1 states, “The king’s heart is like channels of water in the hands of the Lord; He turns it wherever He pleases.” (Think of Pharaoh and his hardening heart in Egypt, and how God used him to write an amazing chapter of Israel’s story that they would never forget!)

I am so thankful that our God is all-wise and all-powerful. I can trust Him as He uses it ALL to carry out His perfect plans, ultimately for our good and His greatly deserved glory. (Romans 8:28.)

-Wendy York