Having addressed the remnant of Israel, Paul made sure in the first half of Chapter 11 that while Israel became the broken branches and Christians were grafted in to the vine of Christ, he warned us to not become proud and consider ourselves better than the Jews. When we do not stand fast in faith, we should be in great fear of God, who is capable of breaking us off the vine and re-grafting Israel back in should they learn to stand fast in faith.
In other words, we are in this together with Israel, and God loves both of his families as one. We shall be in perfect unity with Israel in the future:
“Lest you be wise in your own sight, I do not want you to be unaware of this mystery, brothers: a partial hardening has come upon Israel, until the fullness of the Gentiles has come in. And in this way all Israel will be saved, as it is written, ‘The Deliverer will come from Zion, he will banish ungodliness from Jacob’; ‘and this will be my covenant with them when I take away their sins’” (Rom 11:25-27; Psalm 14:1-7; Isaiah 59:1-21).
This is not a mystery in the sense of not being able to understand. It is a mystery now being revealed which was for a long time kept secret by God. In the beginning, the Jews had centuries to learn of God’s love and to flourish, until failing to recognize their Messiah and rejecting him altogether.
Paul is saying that the period where the Jews are not in favor with God is part of God’s plan for the church of Jesus to thrive and flourish for centuries. But then, Israel too will be saved and their sins washed away, just as ours are:
“As regards the gospel, they are enemies for your sake. But as regards election, they are beloved for the sake of their forefathers. For the gifts and the calling of God are irrevocable. For just as you were at one time disobedient to God but now have received mercy because of their disobedience, so they too have now been disobedient in order that by the mercy shown to you they also may now receive mercy. For God has consigned all to disobedience, that he may have mercy on all” (Rom 11:28-32).
This is astonishing! All that guilt we feel has a purpose – it is the only way we will be able to understand and receive the never-ending love of God in perfect unity with him!
Think of the Jews and the Christians as two Alaskan husky puppies sharing a harness for the first time in training for the Iditarod sled race. At the call of “Mush!” from their master, one puppy pulls one way, and the second pulls another way, and they exhaust themselves pulling against each other. But the master already knows they will do this, and he slowly trains them to pull in the same direction.
All are consigned to disobedience, only so that their training can proceed to their great benefit:
“Oh, the depth of the riches and wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are his judgments and how inscrutable his ways! ‘For who has known the mind of the Lord, or who has been his counselor?’ ‘Or who has given a gift to him that he might be repaid?’ From him and through him and to him are all things. To him be glory forever. Amen” (Rom 11:33-36; Job 15:8; Jeremiah 23:18; Isaiah 40:13-14; Job 35:7, 41:11).
That God designed us to be imperfect so that we can realize his perfection is deeply rich, wise, and inscrutable.
Ironically, the mystery of the salvation of the Jews is the assurance of our own salvation.
In perfect unity we must not become proud nor consider ourselves better than anyone else.
We must stand firm in faith or stand in great fear of the Lord.