Romans 11:1: I Ask, Then, Has God Rejected His People? By No Means!

Romans 11:1
[1] I ask, then, has God rejected his people? By no means! For I myself am an Israelite, a descendant of Abraham, a member of the tribe of Benjamin. (ESV)

Have you ever been in a tense situation where someone needed to address the elephant in the room, but no one is willing. I believe that the Apostle Paul was one of those people who was not afraid to address the elephant in the room. He was willing to ask the hard questions that people were thinking but might not be bold enough to ask.

In the previous chapters Paul has made a case against the people of Israel. He quotes the prophet Isaiah in which God refers to the people of Israel as a "disobedient and contrary people (Romans 10:21)." If the Jewish people are this far gone does that mean that God is done with them? Has he moved on to the Gentiles and rejected the people of Israel? It is a natural question.

Paul raises the question and has a quick response. By no means! Paul could not be more emphatic in his rejection of such a notion that God would reject his own people. Paul then refers to himself as an example. Paul was an Israelite, but not just any kind of Israelite, he was of the tribe of Benjamin. This may not mean anything to you and I, but it meant something to the Jews. Paul was a Jew's Jew!

There is one thing that we can take away from this verse that is for all people who belong to God. God does not reject his own. Yes, his children may be wayward. His sons and daughters may be disobedient and contrary. Does God reject us because of our behavior? He has every right to. Thankfully, God is faithful even when we are not.

Praise God today for his faithfulness. He has every right to disown us. His grace is greater than our sin. He is faithful even when we are not. In light of his wonderful mercy, live today in gratitude and obedience.