Daily Manna 23 March
MEMORY VERSE: “I say then, Have they stumbled that they should fall? God forbid: but rather through their fall salvation is come unto the Gentiles, for to provoke them to jealousy” – Romans 11:11
READ: ROMANS 11:1-12 (KJV)
I say then, has God cast away His people? Certainly not! For I also am an Israelite, of the seed of Abraham, of the tribe of Benjamin. 2 God has not cast away His people whom He foreknew. Or do you not know what the Scripture says of Elijah, how he pleads with God against Israel, saying, 3 “Lord, they have killed Your prophets and torn down Your altars, and I alone am left, and they seek my life”? 4 But what does the divine response say to him? “I have reserved for Myself seven thousand men who have not bowed the knee to Baal.” 5 Even so then, at this present time there is a remnant according to the election of grace. 6 And if by grace, then it is no longer of works; otherwise grace is no longer grace. [a]But if it is of works, it is no longer grace; otherwise work is no longer work.
7 What then? Israel has not obtained what it seeks; but the elect have obtained it, and the rest were blinded. 8 Just as it is written:
“God has given them a spirit of stupor,
Eyes that they should not see
And ears that they should not hear,
To this very day.”
9 And David says:
“Let their table become a snare and a trap,
A stumbling block and a recompense to them.
10 Let their eyes be darkened, so that they do not see,
And bow down their back always.”
11 I say then, have they stumbled that they should fall? Certainly not! But through their [b]fall, to provoke them to jealousy, salvation has come to the Gentiles. 12 Now if their [c]fall is riches for the world, and their failure riches for the Gentiles, how much more their fullness!
Read yesterday’s Daily Manna here
It has occurred in several life instances that a supposed winner is eventually disqualified at the final decision point for failing in one criterion or the other. This kind of scenario has occurred in sporting, political, social, academic, business and other events. In such an instance, the runner-up is selected as a replacement or a fresh selection process is ordered.
Eagles are reputed to be peculiar and unique among other birds. For example, while other birds take shelter when it rains, eagles fly above the cloud of rains. Eagles are also reported to have ability to fly very long distances often without perching. It is reputed to be a strong and fearless hunter that can fly even with one wing when the other one is damaged. The secret of this is that eaglets are thoroughly trained from the nest to maturity by the adult eagles through practice and demonstration.
Each game or life-event has its way of qualifying beneficiaries; so does the kingdom of God. Israel was God’s chosen nation. He is the descendant of Abraham, the father of faith. God places high premium on him. He literally brought the people up, cared for and favoured them. However, Israel’s response to God’s care was like that of a ‘spoilt child’.
They took it for granted and treated His laws with disdain until He was fed up with them for ignoring several of His warnings. He had to set them aside. This gave a great opportunity to the Gentiles who were not of the commonwealth of Israel to enjoy great intimacy with God by adoption into sonship through the Lord Jesus Christ.
God did not intend to cast Israel off forever because “Israel shall be saved…” His purpose for putting them aside for now is to give room for “righteous” Gentiles and to provoke Israel to jealousy so they can seek righteousness and be saved. Like Israel, a person or a congregation may have been enjoying God’s favour and presence for a long time and eventually take these for granted.
These privileges can be withdrawn in the twinkling of an eye. Retaining God’s favour is conditional. As there is room for Israel to regain their earlier favoured position if they respond to God’s overtures, so is there room for those who are cast away to repent and return to God. Those who are enjoying His great care should take heed. If He cast Israel aside, He can do the same to us if we fail Him.
THOUGHT FOR THE DAY: Take heed; nobody is beyond a fall.
BIBLE IN ONE YEAR: DEUTERONOMY 7 – 9
Thank you for studying today’s Daily Manna – Profiting Where Others Failed – by Pastor Enoch A.
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Daily Manna 23 March 2021
