Divine Mystery: Israel's Blindness and Restoration

 

Summary

In this evening's reflection, we delve into the profound mystery revealed in Romans 11:25-27, where Paul speaks of the temporary blindness that has come upon Israel until the fullness of the Gentiles has come in. This blindness is not merely a lack of sight but a hardness of heart, an insensibility to the truth that has been judicially imposed by God. This is not a permanent state but a temporary one, designed to fulfill God's greater plan of salvation for both Jews and Gentiles.

Paul's prophecy is not a novelty but is substantiated by Old Testament quotations, showing that God's plan has always included the eventual restoration of Israel. The blindness of Israel is a mystery, a divine revelation that was inaccessible to human understanding until God chose to reveal it. This blindness is not partial in the sense of being incomplete; rather, it is a total blindness that affects the nation as a whole, though not every individual within it.

The term "until the fullness of the Gentiles has come in" suggests a divine timetable, a point in history when the Gentile world will have largely embraced the gospel. This is not about individual conversions but about a significant movement within the Gentile nations. When this fullness is achieved, God will act to remove the blindness from Israel, leading to their restoration.

This divine action is both a mystery and a marvel, illustrating God's sovereignty in salvation. It is God who hardens and God who restores, demonstrating His ultimate control over history and His unwavering commitment to His covenant promises. The restoration of Israel will be a monumental event, likened to life from the dead, a testament to God's redemptive power and faithfulness.

Key Takeaways:

- The Nature of Blindness: The blindness that has come upon Israel is not merely a lack of sight but a hardness of heart, a judicial act by God due to their persistent unbelief. This blindness is temporary, serving a greater purpose in God's redemptive plan. [05:50]

- God's Sovereignty in Salvation: The mystery of Israel's blindness and eventual restoration highlights God's sovereignty. It is God who hardens and God who restores, demonstrating His control over history and His commitment to His covenant promises. [16:09]

- The Fullness of the Gentiles: The phrase "until the fullness of the Gentiles has come in" indicates a divine timetable. It suggests a significant movement within the Gentile nations towards the gospel, after which God will act to restore Israel. [28:10]

- The Mystery of Restoration: The restoration of Israel is a profound mystery, a divine revelation that was previously inaccessible to human understanding. It will be a monumental event, likened to life from the dead, showcasing God's redemptive power. [41:03]

- The Role of Prophecy: Paul's prophecy is not a novelty but is supported by Old Testament quotations, showing that God's plan has always included the eventual restoration of Israel. This underscores the continuity and faithfulness of God's redemptive plan. [02:32]

Youtube Chapters:

- [00:00] - Welcome
- [00:13] - Introduction to the Mystery
- [01:09] - Prophecy and Its Implications
- [02:18] - Old Testament Support
- [03:10] - Understanding Blindness
- [05:15] - The Meaning of Hardness
- [07:31] - The Cause of Unbelief
- [09:35] - The Veil Over Hearts
- [11:05] - Total vs. Partial Blindness
- [13:25] - Temporary Blindness
- [15:23] - Judicial Blindness
- [18:08] - God's Purpose in Hardening
- [22:23] - The Role of Parables
- [24:23] - God's Action in Restoration
- [28:10] - The Fullness of the Gentiles
- [31:38] - All Israel Shall Be Saved
- [35:18] - The Meaning of All Israel
- [41:03] - The Mystery of Restoration
- [43:36] - Conclusion and Prayer

Study Guide

Bible Study Discussion Guide

Bible Reading:
- Romans 11:25-27
- 2 Corinthians 3:14-16
- Hebrews 3:7-13

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Observation Questions:

1. What does Paul mean by "blindness in part has happened to Israel" in Romans 11:25? How does this concept relate to the idea of a "judicial act by God"? [15:23]

2. In the sermon, how is the term "fullness of the Gentiles" explained, and what significance does it hold in the context of Israel's restoration? [28:10]

3. How does the sermon describe the nature of Israel's blindness, and what Old Testament references are used to support this description? [02:32]

4. What role does prophecy play in Paul's message about Israel's future, according to the sermon? [02:32]

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Interpretation Questions:

1. How does the concept of "judicial blindness" challenge or affirm your understanding of God's sovereignty in salvation? What implications does this have for how we view God's actions in history? [15:23]

2. The sermon suggests that the restoration of Israel will be a monumental event, likened to "life from the dead." What might this metaphor suggest about the nature and impact of Israel's restoration? [41:03]

3. How does the sermon interpret the phrase "all Israel shall be saved"? What are the different views presented, and which one does the sermon advocate? [42:03]

4. In what ways does the sermon suggest that the "fullness of the Gentiles" is part of a divine timetable? How does this perspective influence our understanding of God's plan for both Jews and Gentiles? [28:10]

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Application Questions:

1. Reflect on a time when you felt spiritually blind or hardened in your heart. What steps did you take to seek restoration, and how can this experience inform your understanding of Israel's temporary blindness? [05:15]

2. The sermon emphasizes God's sovereignty in both hardening and restoring. How can this understanding of God's control over history influence your trust in His plans for your life? [16:09]

3. Consider the idea of a "divine timetable" in your own life. Are there areas where you struggle to trust God's timing? How can you cultivate patience and faith in His plan? [28:10]

4. The restoration of Israel is described as a profound mystery. How do you respond to mysteries in your faith journey, and how can you embrace the unknown aspects of God's plan with confidence? [41:03]

5. How can the role of prophecy in the sermon encourage you to study and understand the continuity of God's redemptive plan throughout the Bible? [02:32]

6. In what ways can you actively participate in God's plan for salvation, both for yourself and for others, in light of the sermon’s message about the fullness of the Gentiles? [28:10]

7. How does the sermon challenge you to view the relationship between Jews and Gentiles in the context of God's covenant promises? How can this perspective shape your interactions with people of different faith backgrounds? [16:09]

Devotional

Day 1: The Divine Purpose of Israel's Blindness
The blindness that has come upon Israel is not merely a lack of sight but a hardness of heart, a judicial act by God due to their persistent unbelief. This blindness is temporary, serving a greater purpose in God's redemptive plan. It is a mystery that was inaccessible to human understanding until God chose to reveal it. This blindness affects the nation as a whole, though not every individual within it. The purpose of this blindness is to allow the fullness of the Gentiles to come in, after which God will act to restore Israel. This divine timetable highlights God's sovereignty and His ultimate control over history. [05:50]

Romans 11:7-8 (ESV): "What then? Israel failed to obtain what it was seeking. The elect obtained it, but the rest were hardened, as it is written, 'God gave them a spirit of stupor, eyes that would not see and ears that would not hear, down to this very day.'"

Reflection: Consider a time when you felt spiritually blind or hardened. How did God use that season to fulfill a greater purpose in your life?


Day 2: God's Sovereignty in Salvation
The mystery of Israel's blindness and eventual restoration highlights God's sovereignty. It is God who hardens and God who restores, demonstrating His control over history and His commitment to His covenant promises. This divine action is both a mystery and a marvel, illustrating God's unwavering commitment to His redemptive plan. The restoration of Israel will be a monumental event, likened to life from the dead, showcasing God's redemptive power and faithfulness. [16:09]

Isaiah 46:9-10 (ESV): "Remember the former things of old; for I am God, and there is no other; I am God, and there is none like me, declaring the end from the beginning and from ancient times things not yet done, saying, 'My counsel shall stand, and I will accomplish all my purpose.'"

Reflection: In what ways can you see God's sovereignty at work in your life today, even in situations that seem difficult or confusing?


Day 3: The Fullness of the Gentiles
The phrase "until the fullness of the Gentiles has come in" indicates a divine timetable. It suggests a significant movement within the Gentile nations towards the gospel, after which God will act to restore Israel. This is not about individual conversions but about a significant movement within the Gentile nations. When this fullness is achieved, God will act to remove the blindness from Israel, leading to their restoration. This highlights the interconnectedness of God's plan for both Jews and Gentiles. [28:10]

Ephesians 3:6 (ESV): "This mystery is that the Gentiles are fellow heirs, members of the same body, and partakers of the promise in Christ Jesus through the gospel."

Reflection: How can you participate in God's plan for the fullness of the Gentiles? Is there someone you can share the gospel with today?


Day 4: The Mystery of Restoration
The restoration of Israel is a profound mystery, a divine revelation that was previously inaccessible to human understanding. It will be a monumental event, likened to life from the dead, showcasing God's redemptive power. This restoration is not a novelty but is substantiated by Old Testament quotations, showing that God's plan has always included the eventual restoration of Israel. This underscores the continuity and faithfulness of God's redemptive plan. [41:03]

Ezekiel 37:12-14 (ESV): "Therefore prophesy, and say to them, Thus says the Lord God: Behold, I will open your graves and raise you from your graves, O my people. And I will bring you into the land of Israel. And you shall know that I am the Lord, when I open your graves, and raise you from your graves, O my people. And I will put my Spirit within you, and you shall live, and I will place you in your own land. Then you shall know that I am the Lord; I have spoken, and I will do it, declares the Lord."

Reflection: What does the promise of restoration mean to you personally? How does it inspire hope in your current circumstances?


Day 5: The Role of Prophecy
Paul's prophecy is not a novelty but is supported by Old Testament quotations, showing that God's plan has always included the eventual restoration of Israel. This underscores the continuity and faithfulness of God's redemptive plan. The role of prophecy is to reveal God's plan and to assure believers of His faithfulness to His promises. It serves as a reminder that God's word is true and that His promises will be fulfilled in His perfect timing. [02:32]

Jeremiah 31:33-34 (ESV): "For this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those days, declares the Lord: I will put my law within them, and I will write it on their hearts. And I will be their God, and they shall be my people. And no longer shall each one teach his neighbor and each his brother, saying, 'Know the Lord,' for they shall all know me, from the least of them to the greatest, declares the Lord. For I will forgive their iniquity, and I will remember their sin no more."

Reflection: How does understanding the role of prophecy in God's plan strengthen your faith? What specific promise from God are you holding onto today?

Quotes

"I would like to call your attention this evening to verses 25 26 and 27 in the 11th chapter of Paul's epistle to the Romans for I would not Brethren that ye should be ignorant of this mystery lest ye should be wise in your own conceits the blindness in part has happened to Israel until the fullness of the Gentiles become in and so all Israel shall be saved as it is written there shall come out of Zion the deliverer and shall turn away ungodliness from Jacob for this is my Covenant unto them when I shall take away their sins." [00:01:10]

"Now blindness is the word here in the authorized version that is before me and in a sense it is quite an accurate and a good translation but the word that was used by the Apostle does not mean blindness in and of itself it means hardness it means obtuseness it means insensibility that's the root meaning and of course ultimately therefore it it does come to mean blindness if you're insensitive to truth you can't see it so they were quite justified in using the word blindness." [00:05:27]

"Now this is an idea that you get in the scriptures that the trouble with the children of Israel was a hardness that led to blindness and this according to statements in the scripture is ultimately the cause of unbelief take for instance the way in which the author of The epistle to the Hebrews puts it in the third chapter take verse 8 he says or he's quoting wherefore as the Holy Ghost says today if you will hear his voice Harden not your hearts as in the provocation in the day of Temptation in the wilderness." [00:07:22]

"Blindness in part is happened to Israel until the blindness is not permanent it's not Everlasting it is a temporary blindness that's what me means by impart it is Blindness has happened to Israel until so it's a question of duration of the blindness and not the intensity of the blindness now you will see that when we come gather up all these points it will make the Expos position I think quite inevitable and my method of approach will be justified." [00:14:00]

"Now the way in other words of interpreting this is again to go back to chapter 9 and to read there what we read about God's dealings with Pharaoh verse 17 and so on for the scripture says un to Pharaoh even for this same purpose have I raised thee up that I might show my power in in thee and that my name might be declared throughout all the Earth therefore have he Mercy on whom he will have mercy and whom he will he hardeneth." [00:15:41]

"Now this doesn't mean that God is the author of unbelief but what it does mean is this that because of their unbelief and their persistence in it he deliberately hardens them as he did with Pharaoh now all that has been stated already in verses 8 9 and 10 which I've already read to you this evening and of course you've got we've had it again in verses 11 and 12 I say then have they stumbled that they should fall God forbid but rather through their fall salvation has come to the Gentiles for to provoke them the Jews to jealousy." [00:18:14]

"God has chosen to do this to them in order to bring in the Gentiles and ultimately to provoke them to jealousy but the point we are making therefore is this that a part of the mystery is this that God has inflicted upon the Jews as a whole as a nation and as a race this judicial blindness now let me show you how our blessed Lord himself really taught exactly the same thing do you remember what he says as it's recorded in The Gospel According to St Matthew in Chapter 13 as to why he spoke in Parables." [00:19:37]

"Now then here is the thing above all others about which there has been argumentation and there are three main views with regard to this the first is this one that all Israel means the total number of the elect both Jews and Gentiles all Israel means all the sav Jews all the saved Gentiles that's all Israel that was the view taught by St Augustine John Calvin Martin Luther and yet I make bold to reject it why do I do so well let me give you my reason." [00:34:52]

"Now if the fall of them be the riches of the world and the diminishing of them the rich of the GLE how much more their fullness if it's like this now what will it be like then verse 15 same thing if the casting away of them be the reconciling of the world what shall the receive what shall the receiving of them be but life from the dead now and then you've got the same thing in verses 23 and 24 he says they also if they abide not still in unbelief shall be grafted in." [00:39:21]

"Now then here is the thing above all others about which there has been argumentation and there are three main views with regard to this the first is this one that all Israel means the total number of the elect both Jews and Gentiles all Israel means all the sav Jews all the saved Gentiles that's all Israel that was the view taught by St Augustine John Calvin Martin Luther and yet I make bold to reject it why do I do so well let me give you my reason." [00:34:52]

"Now if the fall of them be the riches of the world and the diminishing of them the rich of the GLE how much more their fullness if it's like this now what will it be like then verse 15 same thing if the casting away of them be the reconciling of the world what shall the receive what shall the receiving of them be but life from the dead now and then you've got the same thing in verses 23 and 24 he says they also if they abide not still in unbelief shall be grafted in." [00:39:21]

"Now then here is the thing above all others about which there has been argumentation and there are three main views with regard to this the first is this one that all Israel means the total number of the elect both Jews and Gentiles all Israel means all the sav Jews all the saved Gentiles that's all Israel that was the view taught by St Augustine John Calvin Martin Luther and yet I make bold to reject it why do I do so well let me give you my reason." [00:34:52]

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Transcript
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