For if their being cast away

.... is the reconciling of the world, what will their acceptance be,  but life from the dead (Romans 11:15)? It was always God's sovereign intention that the Jew should bring salvation to the Gentiles (Genesis 22:18). Jesus,  the Jewish Messiah,  came to His own (the Jew), and His own received Him not, but to as many as received Him He gave the right to become the sons of God (John 1:11, 12). There is a teaching out there,  that the church has replaced the Jew,  and that God is finished with them.  But Paul here is making the opposite case.  Indeed, this morning's verse speaks about their acceptance (reconciliation). God does not make promises (covenants) and then withdraw them, for  “the gifts and the calling of God are irrevocable” (11:29).  “Calling” here  refers primarily (but not exclusively) to God's calling the sinner to repentance and salvation (1:5, 6). Unfortunately for most of its existence the Church has actually persecuted the Jew. Anti-semitism, and the murder of six millions Jews did not,  by any means,  originate with Hitler.

Rather than persecuting the Jew, it was and is, God's intention that the inclusion of the Church should provoke the Jew to jealousy.  It was even predicted! From the lips of Moses we read “I will rouse their jealousy through people who are not even a people” (Deuteronomy 32:21; 11:11). A large part of the  church is ignorant of all this, in spite of Paul explicitly saying  “I do not desire, brethren, that you should be ignorant of this mystery, lest you should be wise in your own opinion, that blindness in part has happened to Israel until the fullness of the Gentiles has come in” (11:25). The fullness of the Gentiles is about the time when all the Gentiles who are going to receive Him, will have received Him. There is also a fullness from among the Jews.  Indeed  “Now if their fall is riches for the world, and their failure riches for the Gentiles, how much more their fullness” (11:12)!

Now I do not pretend that modern day Israel is perfect, far from it. But “he who is without sin should cast the first stone!” But surly,  with Paul,  it should be our heart’s desire and prayer to God for Israel .... that they may be saved” (10:1). And well yes,  we should pray for the Palestinians too, and actually any other people group too. The plight of the  Palestinians is certainly dire, and there are certainly grave injustices from both sides. In the natural any solution to the problem is intractable. For one thing,  among other peoples groups in the Middle East,  the Palestinians are puppets in a proxy war,  with Iran being a prime mover. And how do you make peace with leaders who are committed to your extermination?

Father, Your Word tells us that it is not Your desire that any should perish, but that all come to repentance (2 Peter 3:9). And so this certainly includes both Israel and the Palestinians. You also tell us to pray for the peace of Jerusalem (Psalm 122:6), and so we do this this morning Lord. Also, in identification repentance, I want to repent for myself and the church for its anti-semitism down thought the years,  and its continuation even today. Open our eyes to Your Kingdom purposes Lord,  and help us to extend Your mercy to all in Jesus Name Amen.