Paul’s Anguish Over Israel- Romans 9:1-13
I am speaking the truth in Christ—I am not lying; my conscience confirms it by the Holy Spirit— 2 I have great sorrow and unceasing anguish in my heart. 3 For I could wish that I myself were accursed and cut off from Christ for the sake of my own people, my kindred according to the flesh. 4 They are Israelites, and to them belong the adoption, the glory, the covenants, the giving of the law, the worship, and the promises; 5 to them belong the patriarchs, and from them, according to the flesh, comes the Messiah, who is over all, God blessed forever. Amen.
6 It is not as though the word of God had failed. For not all Israelites truly belong to Israel, 7 and not all of Abraham’s children are his true descendants; but “It is through Isaac that descendants shall be named for you.” 8 This means that it is not the children of the flesh who are the children of God, but the children of the promise are counted as descendants. 9 For this is what the promise said, “About this time I will return and Sarah shall have a son.” 10 Nor is that all; something similar happened to Rebecca when she had conceived children by one husband, our ancestor Isaac. 11 Even before they had been born or had done anything good or bad (so that God’s purpose of election might continue, 12 not by works but by his call) she was told, “The elder shall serve the younger.” 13 As it is written,
“I have loved Jacob,
but I have hated Esau.”
What does the Passage Say?
V. 1-5 Paul mourns for the Israelites. He mourns because they are the chosen ones, but they weren’t able to experience the fullness of God’s Salvation. Instead, they were judgmental and were the ones who crucified the promised Messiah. Paul says, ‘If they can be redeemed, I will even give up my life, in exchange.’
V. 6-13 Paul is trying to explain the reason why he mourns for the people. The first reason is seeing themselves as chosen people because of their genetics. He says, “This means that it is not the children of the flesh who are the children of God, but the children of the promise are counted as descendants” (v. 8 NRSV).
What does this mean to us?
Paul loved his people, and he sincerely prayed for his people. I had to wonder how much did I love the church and Christians. We know that ‘we are chosen by Grace’, but many do not realize what this means. Sometimes it can discourage us when we see that Christians are failing to live as a light of Jesus in this world. However, do I have Paul’s passion for saying, ‘Even if I have to die- be cut from the promise- for the people of God to live according to God’s will’ – I don’t know if I am as passionate, as much as him.
Lord give me that passion.
Lord, thank you for choosing us as your people. May we live, in this world, worthy of our call. May you revive the churches with your Spirit. Walk with us, and grow us everyday.
In Christ Name, Amen.
What are your thoughts?
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