Skip to main content

Romans 11:11: So, I Ask, Did They Stumble In Order That They Might Fall?


Romans 11:11
[11] So I ask, did they stumble in order that they might fall? By no means! Rather, through their trespass salvation has come to the Gentiles, so as to make Israel jealous. (ESV)

We live in a world where you have to child proof everything. I can remember the day that I purchased a wood stove in my home. I had small children at the time. The concern that some people had was that my child might get burned. It is a legitimate concern. I am pretty sure my in-laws wanted me to put a fifteen foot barricade in front of the stuff lest any of the precious ones get burned.

I want to be clear. I did not want my children to get burned on the hot wood stove. However, I remember a different time where my father would have simply told me that the stove was hot and to be careful around it. If I got burned it would have been the result of my carelessness and a burn on my hand would be a healthy reminder to be more careful.

Let's use this illustration in reference to the people of Israel. Their own rejection of the Gospel caused them hurt. Did God ultimately want his people to be hurt? No, of course not. They stumbled so that they would learn how to properly walk in righteousness. God did not stand above them with a steel toed boot, kicking them while they were down. He wanted their stumbling to lead to walking.

A good dose of hurt can lead to common sense. The sin of the Israelites and their disbelief was something that God used to get their attention. He allowed the Gentiles' acceptance of salvation to get the Jews' attention. This way they could see that they were intentionally being burned by their own disobedience. It was unnecessary. They could avoid sin, repent, and be healed.

What fiery sin are you falling into? Is God allowing you to feel some discomfort in order to get your attention? Do not be a fool. Humble yourself under his mighty hand. He will allow you to stumble only because he wants to help you to walk.

Comments

Popular posts from this blog

Romans 8:18: For I Consider That The Sufferings Of This Present Time Are Not Worth Comparing

Romans 8:18 [18] For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory that is to be revealed to us. (ESV) Perspective. What an important word. Let's be honest. We do not like the idea of suffering. We will do almost anything to avoid any kind of suffering. Some churches have gone so far as to preach against the idea of suffering, declaring it to not be a part of the true believer's life. Paul is not shy about the topic. Paul uses the sufferings of this present time as a means to consider the greater glory that awaits us. Perspective. Paul is not in any way attempting to diminish our suffering. A view toward eternity puts our suffering in a proper understanding. Yes, our suffering is terrible. In the grand scheme of eternity it is not even worth comparison. Maybe you are thinking that Paul does not know what he is talking about when it comes to suffering. In 2 Corinthians 11 Paul describes countless beatings, often near death,

Romans 11:24: For If You Were Cut From What Is By Nature A Wild Olive Tree, And Grafted, Contrary To Nature, Into A Cultivated Olive Tree . . .

Romans 11:24 [24] For if you were cut from what is by nature a wild olive tree, and grafted, contrary to nature, into a cultivated olive tree, how much more will these, the natural branches, be grafted back into their own olive tree. (ESV) We continue looking at the illustration of an olive tree. The root of the tree is the covenant relationship relationship of God with Abraham. Abraham's faith is what this spiritual tree is built on. The first branches would have been the faithful people of Israel, who like Abraham, placed their faith in God. They believed God, just like Abraham, and it was credited to them as righteousness. There were branches of the people of Israel who never placed their faith in God. Because these branches were not true followers of God they were broken off of the tree. Faith in God was the essential element that made the branches true branches of this spiritual tree. Some branches remained. Others, the faithless unbelievers, were removed. After Jesu

Romans 15:20-21: And Thus I Make It My Ambition To Preach The Gospel, Not Where Christ Has Already Been Named

Romans 15:20–21 [20] and thus I make it my ambition to preach the gospel, not where Christ has already been named, lest I build on someone else's foundation, [21] but as it is written, “Those who have never been told of him will see, and those who have never heard will understand.” (ESV) We need to be reminded continually that the message of the Gospel is intended to move all across the world. Jesus said that his followers were to preach the Gospel, starting in Jerusalem, and continue preaching the Gospel to the whole world. Christians have not always been good at delivering the Gospel message as far and as often as they should. In the first century church it took intense persecution to motivate the disciples in Jerusalem to bring the Gospel to Judea and Samaria. Once the disciples fled to new regions they shared the Gospel wherever they went. Would the disciples have preached the Gospel without the persecution? We may never know. Some probably would have stayed in their co