| << Romans 11:24 | Romans 11:26 >> |
God Himself has kept Israel from seeing and hearing (understanding and applying) His truth, giving Israel a spirit of slumber to make possible the salvation of the Gentiles. He has determined to call and choose only a limited number from Israel in this age, allowing the rest to remain blinded. With the rest of humanity, they will rise in the second resurrection and have the opportunity for salvation.
Man cannot "find" God; only God can initiate a calling. The world, including most of physical Israel, is consigned to unbelief until later in God's plan, yet most modern Israelites would say they know God or believe in Him. Romans 10:12-15 describes how God generally introduces people to Himself, though they may suppose they initiated contact with Him by "calling on the name of the Lord." Men must hear of Him through a preacher - and one whom God has sent, not one that is self-proclaimed.
Paul explains the fundamental reason for God's current blinding of Israel: God is working with the elect in a way He is not working with Israel yet. Thus, He has blinded Israel until He calls those Gentiles that He has determined to convert. Israel was disobedient, so He scattered and blinded her, intending to regather her and restore her understanding in the future. Then she will recognize her Savior and learn what a relationship with Him truly entails.
David C. Grabbe
Spiritual Blindness (Part One): The God of This World
| << Romans 11:24 | Romans 11:26 >> |
God is working with the elect in a way He is not yet working with Israel. Because Israel was disobedient, He scattered and blinded her, giving her a spirit of slumber that keeps her from understanding and applying His truth, making possible the Gentiles' salvation. Only God initiates a calling, and in this age He calls a limited number from Israel while the rest remain blinded. This hardening lasts until He calls the Gentiles He has determined to convert; the times of the Gentiles end when Christ returns, and then Israel's salvation begins. Then God will regather Israel and restore her understanding so she recognizes her Savior. The blinded will rise with all humanity in the second resurrection, having opportunity for salvation.