Romans 9:4-9 (NIV)

Romans 9:4-9 (NIV)
4 the people of Israel. Theirs is the adoption as sons; theirs the divine glory, the covenants, the receiving of the law, the temple worship and the promises.
5 Theirs are the patriarchs, and from them is traced the human ancestry of Christ, who is God over all, forever praised! Amen.
6 It is not as though God's word had failed. For not all who are descended from Israel are Israel.
7 Nor because they are his descendants are they all Abraham's children. On the contrary, "It is through Isaac that your offspring will be reckoned."
8 In other words, it is not the natural children who are God's children, but it is the children of the promise who are regarded as Abraham's offspring.
9 For this was how the promise was stated: "At the appointed time I will return, and Sarah will have a son."


In verses 1-3 Paul told of his anguish that Israel did not know the Messiah. He is now addressing a couple of issues regarding the Jewish nation. The first issue that Paul addresses is that it was not a waste to be a Jew. There were a lot of advantages in being a Jew and Paul lists them in verses 4-5. Paul would say that the Jews did not take advantage of being in their unique position to see that Jesus was the Messiah. Jews were coming to faith, but the nation as a whole had not turned to Jesus. Many Gentiles around the world were believing in Christ and they did not have the built-in advantages that Israelites had as a people. Perhaps a bigger issue is that of people thinking that God somehow had failed His people. In verses 6-9 Paul begins to answer that question. Not all Israel are Israel. What a great phrase that sums up what is really going on in God's bigger plan. Just because you have some Jewish blood does not mean you are automatically in God's family. Paul then turns to the children of the promise which is different than a blood line. That is why Paul says later that God has mercy on whom He has mercy. What is happening in these verses is like a glimpse behind the curtains of an epic drama. The deeper you go into this drama it becomes apparent that God wrote the epic play and He is directing it as well. As I read chapter nine I grieve for Israel with all their opportunities to know and obey the truth, but did not act. Pray for Israel as they are still in God's plan and then make sure you act upon the opportunities that have been and are given to you.