Category Archives: Israel

Man trimming branches of olive tree with pruning shears in orchard
Bible, Gentiles, Israel, Pruning, Purpose, Romans, Scripture

MISUNDERSTANDINGS

ROMANS 11:19

“You will say then, ‘Branches were broken off so that I might be grafted in.’”

Isn’t it amazing that one event can be interpreted so differently by people? They each see it from their own perspective and make their own assumptions. If you came upon a car crash, you might assume certain things about the drivers. Was one under the influence? Was one on their phone? Unless you know all the facts, your opinion of any incident is just that – your opinion. Misunderstandings happen due to lack of knowledge.

Paul brings up a misunderstanding that may have existed among the Gentile believers. We’ll see this discussed over the next few verses. As I mentioned yesterday, some Gentiles were claiming superiority over the Jews since God had given them this message of salvation after His rejection of the Jews who had refused His Son. Remember, these Gentiles didn’t have the knowledge of the Scriptures that showed God’s plan was to use the Jewish nation to reach the world. They were only seeing the current situation. Context is always important.

APPLICATION

The Topical Lexicon says, “Paul addresses Gentile believers tempted to view Jewish unbelief as proof that God had shifted His favor permanently. To correct this arrogance, he recalls that unfaithful Israelite branches ‘were broken off’ (Romans 11:17, 19, 20) so that Gentiles might be grafted in by faith. The verb occurs only in this paragraph, underscoring the deliberate and solemn nature of the divine action.” The practice of breaking off unproductive branches of an olive tree to make room for more productive ones was one the people could understand. They may have even done this to their own olive trees. The tree was still there along with the other branches.

The breaking off of these branches Paul is referring to has a specific purpose. You really need to see this. Pruning or breaking off these branches had a missionary purpose. Remember back in Romans 11:11 Paul said it was to make Israel jealous and desire to return to the Lord. That is still true today. Israel still has a role to play in our eschatological future.

Let me ask you something about your spiritual life. Do you have unproductive branches that are sucking life from you? We engage in so many things that really have no spiritual purpose. Those can literally cause your more productive branches to wither. You may need to prune back your rec time for more prayer time. You might need to give up something else to spend more time in the Word. Prune your own life to make room for more production spiritually.

Father, give me wisdom to know what to prune in order to produce more for You.

If the Lord should lead you to support our ministry, check out our ministry page at Trans World Radio (www.twr.org/carl-willis). 

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Woman mentoring a man with notebook in office corridor
Arrogance, Bible, Covenant, Gentiles, Israel, Romans, Scripture

ARROGANCE

ROMANS 11:18

“do not be arrogant toward the branches; but if you are arrogant, remember that it is not you who supports the root, but the root supports you.”

When my wife first met me back in 1985, she thought I was arrogant. Can you believe that? Me? Arrogant? I have to admit that I could come across that way. I was pretty self-confident, but I never saw myself as arrogant. That’s the problem with arrogance. You never really see yourself that way, but others can sure see it. Obviously, my wife learned that I wasn’t arrogant. She agreed to marry me after our third date! We celebrated 40 years of marital bliss last December.

Paul issues a warning to the Gentiles in verse 18 of Romans 11. Obviously, there were some Gentiles who thought themselves better than the Jews since God had now offered them this covenant relationship. They were the “replacements.” Not so quick. Paul reminds them that they are just the branches which God has engrafted (see yesterday’s blog) into the root. What did Paul mean by the use of the word “arrogant”?

APPLICATION

Katakauchaomai is the Greek word translated as “arrogant.” It is only used four times in the New Testament, two of those times in this verse. It means to “boast down, over-exalting one thing at the expense of another which results in wrong conclusions – i.e. that unjustifiably downgrade by boasting with a sense of false superiority.” (HELPS Word-studies) Think of someone who looks down their nose at you. They are puffed up.

The word is used twice in James. In James 2:13 we read, “For judgment will be merciless to one who has shown no mercy; mercy triumphs over judgment.” Wait a minute, Carl. I thought you said this word didn’t mean anything good. Let me explain. The literal translation of katakauchaomai means “to boast against.” Someone once said, “It’s not arrogance if you can do what you say.” Mercy is above judgment. God has proven this fact in our lives. He is able to show this.

The last time katakauchaomai is used is in James 3:14. “But if you have bitter jealousy and selfish ambition in your heart, do not be arrogant and so lie against the truth.” We can see here the danger of arrogance as it links arms with jealousy and selfishness and lying. Not good company. So, arrogance has no place in a believer’s life. Christ taught us to be humble and then He will exalt us. Practice that today.

Lord, help me shed any pretense of arrogance in my life and show humility instead.

If the Lord should lead you to support our ministry, check out our ministry page at Trans World Radio (www.twr.org/carl-willis). 

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Plate of freshly baked golden biscuits with steam rising, coffee mug, bowls of butter and jam
Bible, Covenant, Israel, Jesus, Romans, Salvation, Scripture

HOLY LUMP

ROMANS 11:16

“If the first piece of dough is holy, the lump is also; and if the root is holy, the branches are as well.”

Don’t you just love that word “lump”? When I hear it, I think about the lump of dough my mama would have on the kitchen table when she made homemade biscuits. Boy, were her biscuits good. She would mix up the flour and buttermilk, a little shortening and a couple of eggs. Her biscuits were so fluffy on the inside, but crispy on the outside. Excuse me while I wipe my mouth, lol. Every bit of that lump was good, whether it was used to make a little biscuit or a “cathead” biscuit (look that up).

As Paul looks toward the redemption of his nation Israel, he makes this statement today about their future. He refers back to Abraham and the covenant guidelines of offering to God the first fruits. He uses the terms “lump” and “branches” to describe the people of Israel with the belief that they will be ushered in one day to the kingdom when they surrender to the Lord fully, just as Abraham had covenanted with God at the outset of the nation. Matthew Poole’s Commentary says, “Here is another argument to prove the Jews are not finally rejected, because of the covenant made with their fathers…by lump, and branches, he means the people of the Jews that descended of these holy patriarchs, and spring from them, as branches from a root.”

APPLICATION

Even Peter said these words to his people during his second sermon in Acts 3:25. “It is you who are the sons of the prophets and of the covenant which God ordained with your fathers, saying to Abraham, ‘AND IN YOUR SEED ALL THE FAMILIES OF THE EARTH SHALL BE BLESSED.’” The purpose God had given the Jews was to make his salvation known among the nations. That was done through His Son, Jesus Christ, born a Jew to fulfill this prophecy.

So, how does this apply to us today. Over in 1 Corinthians 5:6-7, Paul uses that word for “lump” again. This time pointing out a different thought. “6 Your boasting is not good. Do you not know that a little leaven leavens the whole lump of dough? 7 Clean out the old leaven so that you may be a new lump, just as you are in fact unleavened. For Christ our Passover also has been sacrificed.” What does that mean? Just as one good lump can influence the whole, one bad lump can as well.

Are you a good lump or a bad lump? All the molecules of my mama’s biscuit dough came together to produce a truly delicious product. Each molecule did its job without worrying about what the other one was doing. They were all there to make biscuits. (Hungry yet?) We, as followers of Christ, must come together to make disciples who make disciples. Stop worrying about what the Methodists or Baptists or Pentecostals are doing. Just do your part, be the lump!

Thank You, Father, for allowing me to be a part of the whole lump and spread Your message.

If the Lord should lead you to support our ministry, check out our ministry page at Trans World Radio (www.twr.org/carl-willis). 

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Wooden sign with the word MOTIVATION on a forest hiking trail.
Bible, Covenant, Gentiles, Israel, Jealousy, Romans, Salvation, Scripture

MOVED TO JEALOUSY

ROMANS 11:14

“if somehow I may move my own people to jealousy and save some of them.”

I had the privilege to supervise a lot of people through my ministry career. Some were easier than others, lol. But I always tried to motivate my people to do their best. One way was to never ask them to do something I wasn’t willing to do myself. I would get right there in with them. Motivation is a learned skill, I believe. You have to know what motivates a person. For some, it’s money. Others need words of encouragement. Find what motivates those around you and practice it.

Paul was doing just that. He was trying to motivate the Jews who had rejected Jesus to turn to him by showing them from Scripture the warnings. Here is how Albert Barnes explains Paul statement “I may move my own people to jealousy.” “I may awaken up to zeal, or to an earnest desire to obtain the like blessings. This was in accordance with the prediction of Moses, that the calling in of the Gentiles would excite their attention, and provoke them to deep feeling. The apostle expected to do this by calling their attention to the ancient prophecies; by alarming their fears about their own danger; and by showing them the great privileges which Gentiles might enjoy under the gospel; thus appealing to them by every principle of benevolence, by all their regard for God and man, to excite them to seek the same blessings.” Would that have motivated you?

APPLICATION

The Greek word translated as “move…to jealousy” is parazéloó which comes from para (alongside) and zeloo (boil over with desire). It means “to apply heavy (‘hot’) pressure to provoke change, especially in an ‘up-close-and-personal’ way.” (HELPS Word-studies) Paul was not shying away from the Jews. He was figuratively “up in their face” trying to get them to respond.

Now don’t think Paul was trying to incite the Jews to something that was evil. We often think of jealousy in a negative way, and it is often used that way. But here Paul is trying to get them to return to a relationship with a holy God Who has offered His own Son for them, as well as the Gentiles. The Topical Lexicon says, this “jealousy is not petty envy but the righteous passion of a covenant partner who demands fidelity.”

I am jealous for my wife. I do not want other men to look at her in the wrong way. I am protecting my covenant relationship with her against all others. How far would I go to do that? As far as I had to. I am, after all, her protector. Jealousy isn’t all bad. You have to look at the context of the situation. Here in today’s verse, Paul wants the Jews to get jealous for the relationship which the Gentiles now have with Jesus. He wants them to return to God and their own covenant relationship as a nation which now rests in Jesus. Are you jealous for Him?

Father, I desire to know You more and more and want others to know You as well.

If the Lord should lead you to support our ministry, check out our ministry page at Trans World Radio (www.twr.org/carl-willis). 

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Wooden sign with the word 'FAILURE' on a rural dirt path
Bible, Failures, Gentiles, Israel, Romans, Scripture, Victors, Victory

FAILURE

ROMANS 11:12

“Now if their wrongdoing proves to be riches for the world, and their failure, riches for the Gentiles, how much more will their fulfillment be!” 

When we lose a loved one to death, we often will say, “Our loss is heaven’s gain.” That does not diminish the agony of grief, but we know where our loved is and will be reunited with them, if we too are followers of Christ. The same could be said of Christ’s death on the cross. What the world may have seen as a failure was actually a victory. Christ suffered for us, so that we may have redemption and life everlasting with the Father.

In today’s verse, Paul continues his discussion about the Jewish nation’s rejection of Jesus and the inclusion of the Gentiles into God’s promises. I love how this one source describes this verse.

“Paul contrasts Israel’s present héttéma (failure) with its promised ‘fullness.’ Their stumbling becomes the unexpected means by which Gentiles receive salvation, revealing God’s sovereignty over apparent losses. The verse invites expectancy: if God can turn a national failure into global blessing, He will surely bring surpassing glory when Israel’s fullness arrives.” (Topical Lexicon)

APPLICATION

The Greek word héttéma only occurs once more in the New Testament. In 1 Corinthians 6:7 it is used to describe the failure we, as followers of Jesus, exhibit by taking each other to court instead of settling conflicts biblically. We’ve lost from the very beginning. We are setting a poor example of what it means to trust the Lord. This lawsuit craze isn’t new. In the Roman culture, legal victories meant power.

So, how do we apply this verse and this idea of “failure” to our Christian walk? We are going to have failures in life. No one is victorious all the time. I have friends who struggle with certain aspects of their life. They do well for a while and then slip back into old patterns of sinful behavior. But God’s grace is sufficient and can return us to victorious living if we will allow His will to be our will.

Can I ask you a personal question? When was your last spiritual failure? Last week? Yesterday? This morning? Do not let the devil rob you of your victory in Christ. I read a quote from Oswald Chambers yesterday that applies here, I believe. “If the devil can hinder us from taking the supreme climb and getting rid of our wrong traditional beliefs about God, he will do so.” Don’t let him. When you do fail, let God raise you up. He stands ready. He has not abandoned you. Call to Him. He is waiting.

Forgive me, Father, when I fail You. Lift me up and place me back on high ground.

If the Lord should lead you to support our ministry, check out our ministry page at Trans World Radio (www.twr.org/carl-willis). 

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Woman hiking on a mountain trail with anatomical heart graphic on her jacket
Bible, Scripture, Heart, Jesus, Hard, Romans, Israel, Refusal

HARDENED BY REFUSAL

ROMANS 11:7

“What then? What Israel is seeking, it has not obtained, but those who were chosen obtained it, and the rest were hardened;”

Have you ever known a hard person? You know, someone who is colder than ice. They refuse any emotional connections. They see themselves above others. I could go on, but you get the drift. I often wonder what caused them to be that way. Was it their childhood? Was it a traumatic event in their past? For whatever reason, they have hardened their heart to others, even the love of God.

Paul says in today’s verse that some of the Jews had become hardened. The Greek word translated as “hardened” is pōróō. HELPS Word-studies says this about that word, “(from pōros, a kind of marble) – properly, made of stone; (figuratively) insensible; dull, unperceptive as a rock; calloused (hardened); i.e. unresponsive (dense), completely lacking sensitivity or spiritual perception. pōróō (from pōros, a kind of marble) – properly, made of stone; (figuratively) insensible; dull, unperceptive as a rock; calloused (hardened); i.e. unresponsive (dense), completely lacking sensitivity or spiritual perception.” I wanted to include that whole definition so you could get the full picture.

APPLICATION

I was amazed to see this word used to describe the disciples when they saw Jesus walk on the water. In Mark 6:51-52 it says, “51 Then He got into the boat with them, and the wind stopped; and they were utterly astonished, 52 for they had not gained any insight from the incident of the loaves, but their hearts were hardened.” Wow! Wasn’t aware of that, were you? I guess I just missed that before. Even the disciples were hardened in their hearts at this point.

Two chapters later in Mark 8:17, we see Jesus call them hardened again. “And Jesus, aware of this, *said to them, ‘Why are you discussing the fact that you have no bread? Do you not yet comprehend or understand? Do you still have your heart hardened?’” Ouch, double ouch! If the disciples who walked with Jesus were hardened in their hearts, aren’t we just as susceptible?

In 2 Corinthians 3:14 pōróō is used to describe those who have refused to respond to Jesus. “But their minds were hardened; for until this very day at the reading of the old covenant the same veil remains unlifted, because it is removed in Christ.” Do you see it now? But praise be to God Who has lifted the veil from over our eyes when we give our heart and soul to Jesus. He softens that old hard heart. Even the hard hearted person can have theirs softened if they will only yield to the Master.

Thank You, Father, for taking my old hard heart and making it pliable and moldable in Your hands.

If the Lord should lead you to support our ministry, check out our ministry page at Trans World Radio (www.twr.org/carl-willis). 

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Couple embracing in a park with autumn leaves and trees
Acceptance, Bible, Elijah, Israel, Rejection, Restoration, Romans, Scripture

STILL HIS

ROMANS 11:2

“God has not rejected His people whom He foreknew. Or do you not know what the Scripture says in the passage about Elijah, how he pleads with God against Israel?”

In our American society today, there is an epidemic of estrangement among family members. In particular, adult children have estranged themselves from their parents causing deep hurts and pains. But I would dare to guess that if any of those adult children came back to their parents for reconciliation, they would be welcomed with open arms. Because no matter the amount of pain that was there during the estrangement, that parent’s love for their children never wavered.

Israel had rebelled time and time and time again against the Lord. They had sought other gods, resulting in judgment and exile. However, God never stopped loving His children. Paul will use an example from the life of Elijah in the next few verses to illustrate that point. He says, “God has not rejected His people whom He foreknew.” God had a plan and purpose for the nation of Israel. Therefore, He will not break that covenant He has made with them.

APPLICATION

The Greek word used here for “rejected” paints a great picture. It’s apótheó “from apo and the middle voice of otheo or otho (to shove); to push off, figuratively, to reject — cast away, put away (from), thrust away (from).” (Strong’s Exhaustive Concordance). Have you ever shoved someone away who tried to come back in your life? I have to admit that I have done that. Why? Fear of being hurt again, a lack of trust in the relationship. But God does not do that, does He?

I love the use of apótheó here. In Romans 10:21 we saw God with His arms outstretched towards Israel. It’s real hard to shove someone away if your arms are outstretched to receive them. Outstretched arms show a desire to bring them in close. I saw a reel recently on Instagram that showed wives welcoming their husbands home with outstretched arms. The moment they came in the door, that’s what the husbands saw. And what did they do? They all went straight to their wives and embraced them.

That’s what God does to us. He stretches out His arms to embrace us, not shove us away. He stands ready to bring us in close. But for that to happen we have to lean in and not pull away. We’ll see the exchange between Elijah and God that Paul referenced in today’s verse in the next verses. Hang on. This gets good.

Oh Lord, I am so thankful that You are always ready to embrace me and not shove me away.

If the Lord should lead you to support our ministry, check out our ministry page at Trans World Radio (www.twr.org/carl-willis). 

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Red and white road sign altered to read 'NO WAY' next to curved forest road
Acceptance, Bible, Israel, Rejection, Romans, Salvation, Scripture

MAY IT NEVER BE!

ROMANS 11:1

“I say then, God has not rejected His people, has He? Far from it! For I too am an Israelite, a descendant of Abraham, of the tribe of Benjamin.”

Some things in life are just absolutes. For instance, I will NEVER eat brussel sprouts again, lol. I will NEVER cheer for the Florida Gators! I will NEVER stop loving Jesus. I could say with Paul, “May it never be!” Paul loves to use this expression. Just look at similar words in these passages in Romans: Romans 3:4, 6, 31; 6:2, 15; 7:7, 13. I may start saying that more when I know something is totally against the truth of God’s word. May it never be!

In chapter 11 Paul picks up where he left off in chapter 10 and further discusses the fate of the Jewish nation. The entirety of chapter 11 is dedicated to showing that although the Jewish nation as a whole had rejected Jesus, there were some who had believed (himself included). Therefore, God was not done with them yet. He would restore the remnant. We’ll spend the next month or so looking at this discussion in depth. Hang on!

APPLICATION

The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges says this about Paul’s words in chapter 11 of Romans. “…he turns to state the happier side; and this in two main aspects. First, he reiterates the truth of the Divine Election, but now in its positive aspect—the existence always of a believing Israel within the unbelieving mass. Secondly, he predicts a time when even in the mass Israel should turn to the true Messiah, be restored to the Church, and become thus an influence of vast good for the world.” God is not done with Israel yet. Paul tells us to not believe that lie. God still has a plan of redemption for His chosen people.

God’s promises are always true, right? Look at Psalm 94:14. “For the LORD will not abandon His people, nor will He abandon His inheritance.” How about Deuteronomy 31:6? “‘Be strong and courageous; do not be afraid or terrified of them, for it is the LORD your God who goes with you; He will never leave you nor forsake you.’” 

Those promises hold true for us, as well. One of my favorites is Isaiah 41:10. “Do not fear, for I am with you; do not be afraid, for I am your God. I will strengthen you; I will surely help you; I will uphold you with My righteous right hand.” And the final words of our Lord in Matthew 28:20 tell us, “‘…and surely I am with your always, even to the end of the age.’” Hallelujah, what a Savior! Will He leave us or abandon us? May it never be!

Thank You, Father, that Your promises to Israel and to us are true and undeniable.

If the Lord should lead you to support our ministry, check out our ministry page at Trans World Radio (www.twr.org/carl-willis). 

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Bible, Israel, Pharisees, Romans, Salvation, Scripture

A SIMPLE PRAYER

ROMANS 10:1

“Brothers and sisters, my heart’s desire and my prayer to God for them is for their salvation.”

Do you have people for whom you are praying for their salvation? I have several, many of them in my family. I would not name them because I love them. But I pray for them to come to a saving knowledge of Jesus, to discover the freedom they can have by coming to their Savior. Truly, I cannot think of a person that I wish would not be saved. God’s Word is plain. It says whosoever will.

Paul has been discussing thus far in Romans the problem the Jews had in receiving Jesus as their Messiah, their Lord. He can relate to them, being a Jew himself. He has tried in his missionary journeys to reach the Jews, even though God’s calling on his life was to the Gentiles. He says it is “my heart’s desire.” He longs for their salvation. The Greek word used there is eudokia which means Paul’s earnest and sincere wish.

APPLICATION

But then he goes a step further and says, “my prayer to God for them is for their salvation.” Paul didn’t just wish this. He sought God on their behalf. Probably, in his daily prayers he asked for his nation to come to Jesus. He probably called out names of Pharisees with whom he served. Perhaps he named certain Jewish towns or settlements. All we know for sure is he prayed to God for their salvation.

I have to be honest. There are certain people I pray for daily to come to Christ. Others I lift up on a weekly or monthly basis. I do that my calling out their names. I try not to throw out some blanket prayer about salvation for the world, even though that is fine. I want to put their name on the end of my tongue and deliver it up to God. I am thinking of one specific person right now (I just paused to pray for their salvation). You can do the same.

Make a list of people you want to see come to Jesus. And then make it a habit to lift them by name to Him. Ask for God to send His Holy Spirit to convict them and draw them to Himself. Ask God to reveal Himself to them in some specific way. Ask God to use you to speak truth to them and love them to Jesus. This is not rocket science. It’s pretty simple, but it’s hard to be committed to it. Make this part of your daily Quiet Time. I can’t wait to hear from you what happens.

Father, I lift up those for whom I have been praying for their salvation. May today be their day of salvation.

If the Lord should lead you to support our ministry, check out our ministry page at Trans World Radio (www.twr.org/carl-willis). 

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