Elisha Vision – Commentary

Are you arrogant or haughty about Israel? Let’s go a little deeper beyond the basic blessed or cursed. God gets more specific in Romans 11. Paul may sound harsh here but his sober warning is quite clear. The context is the breaking off of Israel branches because of unbelief, and grafting in wild olive branches (gentiles) who believe. Notice the simple measure is belief. Jews are not saved just because they are Jews. But, likewise we gentiles are not saved because we are better, or special. It is simply because we believe the promise of the Messiah Yeshua. He is the only way to salvation for everyone.

“Do not boast against the branches. But if you do boast, remember that you do not support the root, but the root supports you. You will say then, ‘Branches were broken off that I might be grafted in.’ Well said. Because of unbelief they were broken off, and you stand by faith. Do not be haughty, but fear.”  Romans 11:18-20

Two Clear Warnings – Don’t boast against Israel and don’t be haughty! We already know from Genesis that those who curse Israel will be cursed and those who bless Israel will be blessed. These warnings go further, touching our attitude. I believe to boast against Israel is the seed of anti-Semitism. To be haughty or arrogant towards them is the beginning of anti-Semitism. Our attitude should only be humility that God found a way to include us! Hallelujah! By the way, to be anti-Israel, anti-Zionist, or anti-Semitic are all the same sin in different words, just semantics.

Now here is the main point. What happens to our beautiful branches if we do sin in this way? Notice the very next verse!

“For if God did not spare the natural branches, He may not spare you either. For if God did not spare the natural branches, He may not spare you either. Therefore consider the goodness and severity of God: on those who fell, severity; but toward you, goodness, if you continue in His goodness. Otherwise you also will be cut off.”  Romans 11:21-22

Finally, back to Paul’s emphasis about Jews being saved even after the severe judgement of being scattered among the nations for 1,800 years. Is there any hope for them?

“And they also, if they do not continue in unbelief, will be grafted in, for God is able to graft them in again. For if you were cut out of the olive tree which is wild by nature, and were grafted contrary to nature into a cultivated olive tree, how much more will these, who are natural branches, be grafted into their own olive tree?”  Romans 11:23-24

Of course, the faithful Yehovah God of Promises will show His rich mercy and grace for all Jews and Israelis who believe in His Messiah. Pray for them and bless them!

Pray for the peace of Jerusalem, for the troops, the leaders, and for rain.

Les Lawrence, a voice of Christian Zionists                 (Read more)