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1But let me ask, did God reject his people? Not at all! I myself belong to Israel. I am one of Abraham’s children, from the tribe of Benjamin.
2God didn’t reject his people, the ones he knew ahead of time. Don’t you know what Scripture says in the story of Elijah? Elijah complained to God about Israel and said,
3“Lord, they’ve killed your prophets and torn down your altars. I’m the only one left, and they’re trying to kill me.”
4How did God answer him? God said, “I’ve kept 7,000 people for myself who haven’t bowed down to Baal.”
5Some Israelites are also faithful today. They’ve been chosen by God’s grace.
6And if they are chosen by grace, then it’s not based on anything they’ve done. If it were, then grace wouldn’t be grace anymore.
7What should we say then? The people of Israel didn’t receive what they wanted so badly. Those Israelites who were chosen did receive it, but the rest of the people were made stubborn.
8It is written,
“God made it hard for them to understand.
He gave them eyes that couldn’t see
and ears that couldn’t hear,
and they’re still like that today.”
9David says,
“Let their feast be a trap and a snare,
something to make them trip and fall.
Let them get what’s coming to them.
10Let their eyes grow dark so they can’t see,
and let their backs be bent forever.”
11So let me ask something else: The Israelites didn’t trip and fall so badly that they could never get up, did they? Not at all! Rather, because Israel went wrong, the Gentiles are being saved, and that should make Israel jealous of them.
12But if Israel’s going wrong has brought riches to the world, and their loss has brought riches to the Gentiles, how much greater riches will come when all Israel turns back to God!
13Let me talk now to you who are Gentiles. As the apostle to the Gentiles, I take pride in the work I do.
14I hope that somehow I can stir up my own people to want what you have. That way maybe some of them will be saved.
15When they were not accepted, it became possible for the whole world to be brought back to God. So what will happen when they are accepted? It will be like life from the dead.
16When the first handful of dough is offered to God, this shows that all of the dough belongs to him. If the root of a tree belongs to God, then so do the branches that grow from it.
17Some of the natural branches have been broken off. You Gentiles are like a wild olive branch that has been grafted onto the tree with the other branches. Now you’re enjoying the life-giving sap of the olive tree root.
18But don’t think you’re better than the other branches. Remember, you don’t give life to the root, the root gives life to you.
19You might say, “Some branches were broken off so that I could be grafted onto the tree.”
20That’s true. But they were broken off because they didn’t believe. You stand only because you do believe. So don’t be proud; be careful.
21If God didn’t spare the natural branches, he won’t spare you either.
22Think about how kind God is! But also think about how strict he is! He was strict with those who stopped following him, but he has been kind to you. So you must continue to live in his kindness. If you don’t, you too will be cut off.
23If the people of Israel don’t continue in their unbelief, they will be grafted back onto the tree. God is able to do that.
24After all, weren’t you cut from a wild olive tree and grafted onto an olive tree that was being cultivated in an orchard? You didn’t come from the same kind of tree. How much more easily will the natural branches be grafted back onto their own olive tree!
25Brothers and sisters, here’s a mystery I want you to understand. It will keep you from being proud. Part of Israel has refused to obey God, and that will continue until the full number of Gentiles has entered God’s kingdom.
26In this way all Israel will be saved. It is written,
“The God who saves will come from Mount Zion.
He will remove sin from Jacob’s family.
27Here is my covenant with them:
I will take away their sins.”
28As far as the good news is concerned, the people of Israel are enemies, and this has been for your benefit. But as far as God’s choice is concerned, the people of Israel are loved because of God’s promises to the founders of their nation.
29God doesn’t take back his gifts or change his mind about those he has chosen.
30At one time you weren’t obeying God, but now you have received mercy because Israel didn’t obey.
31In the same way, Israel hasn’t been obeying God, but now they can receive mercy because of God’s mercy to you.
32God has found everyone guilty of not obeying him so that he can have mercy on everyone.
33God’s wisdom and knowledge are so profoundly rich!
We can’t understand how he reaches such wise decisions!
We can’t figure out how he deals with people so well!
34“Who has known what God thinks?
Or who has ever given him advice?”
35“Has anyone ever given anything to God,
so that God has to pay them back?”
36Everything is from him and through him and for him.
May God be given the glory forever! Amen.