The Role of Israel

I tell the truth in Messiah—I do not lie, my conscience assuring me in the Ruach ha-Kodesh—

who are Israelites. To them belong the adoption and the glory and the covenants and the giving of the Torah and the Temple service and the promises.

But it is not as though the word of God has failed. For not all those who are descended from Israel are Israel,

Isaiah cries out concerning Israel, “Though the number of B’nei-Israel be as the sand of the sea, only the remnant shall be saved.

But Israel, who pursued a Torah of righteousness, did not reach the Torah.

Misdirected Zeal

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

But I say, did Israel not understand? First Moses says, “I will provoke you to jealousy by those who are not a nation, with a nation empty of understanding I will vex you.”

But about Israel He says, “All day long I stretched forth My hands to a disobedient and contrary people.”

Israel Not Rejected

I say then, God has not rejected His people, has He? May it never be! For I too am an Israelite, of the seed of Abraham, of the tribe of Benjamin.

God has not rejected His people whom He knew beforehand. Or do you not know what the Scripture says about Elijah, how he pleads with God against Israel?

What then? What Israel is seeking, it has not obtained; but the elect obtained it, and the rest were hardened—

I say then, they did not stumble so as to fall, did they? May it never be! But by their false step salvation has come to the Gentiles, to provoke Israel to jealousy.

The Mystery Revealed!

For I do not want you, brothers and sisters, to be ignorant of this mystery—lest you be wise in your own eyes—that a partial hardening has come upon Israel until the fullness of the Gentiles has come in;

and in this way all Israel will be saved, as it is written, “The Deliverer shall come out of Zion. He shall turn away ungodliness from Jacob.