Now back to the New Testament once again, to Romans 11. The first verse is quite important to what I am speaking on here now.
Most of us, without ever really stopping to think about it, think only of the church.
In other words he is saying, Hey! God called me out of Israel, and He put me, an Israelite, into His work.
What is the root brethren? It is the nation of Israel. Hang onto that! They have been grafted into Israel, and we will see why in just a bit. God is not done with Israel.
Do you see that? Hardening in part. Not totally; hardening in part, just like we tend to read regarding the Jews, that they are all great terrible sinners. The Bible does not say that. He only says, Some were unfaithful. We also tend to read into this that all of Israel is hardened. No, it is not. Just in part, until the fullness of Gentiles come in.
Brethren, Israel may not know who they are, but God does, and Israel is still functioning in this world as a nation, and God's purpose is still being worked out through them, and it is in Israel (specifically Joseph), that the bulk of God's church is located at this time.
It is very interesting that Paul at this point picks up the example of Elijah.
God has called some Israelites. As a matter of fact, probably in America a majority of Israelites. Not all of them are cast off.
