I do not think that Salvation is something which is granted to
nations. I think that grace, mercy, judgement, destruction, and
prosperity are given to nations or people groups; but not salvation.
Salvation is based on an individual identity falling into submission and
step behind another more powerful (and in this case infinite)
individual personality.
Beyond that, I see Romans 11 as a
classic romance, which could be contrasted with Hosea; while Hosea is
constantly trying to win his unfaithful bride with grace, forgiveness,
and forbearance in Romans, God is having what I consider to be a much
more realistic relationship with Israel (as his first love, or bride)
involving Jealous, Envy, and Passion.
God, as displayed in
Romans 11 is so jealous that His first bride has turned away from him to
other lovers, that He has intentionally sought out the church (His
second bride, in a sense) in order to make His first bride envious!
(11:11) This is exceptional, for while He is intentionally trying to
make His first bride Israel envious, He is attempting to use it to
reconcile them to Himself.
Yet, this is where the analogy
breaks down.. because if things work out this way, then he will end up
with two brides, and I don't think polygamy was the point..
In
fact, what God has done (and I really do believe this) is that He has
created the most stubborn and difficult people on earth. I believe that
they are the Israelites, or more accurately; the Jews. He specifically
made this people more stubborn than any other people so that He could
woo and win the maximum number of gentiles before Israel would finally
repent and return to Him.
Beyond verse 11, verse 32 is, I
believe the most powerful thought (after the doxology in verses 33-36) in
this chapter. For it displays the astounding fact that God has
intentionally "bound" us or "determined" us to be disobedient so that He
may show mercy on us. And what makes this simply stunning is that He is
seeking the reconciliation of all people to Himself, but He decided
that the best way to do that was to bear through the pain of being the
first lover of an unfaithful and profoundly stubborn people.
I
do think that Israel will be saved. While I originally said that I do
not think that salvation is something which is offered to nations, I
also do not think that it is offered only to individuals. Salvation can
be seen as deliverance from one's self (especially if one is "bound" to
be disobedient and unfaithful). Therefore, I believe that God will in
the end, be reconciled to His first love, Israel, by allowing them to
accept His gift of grace and mercy -but He will not do that until He has
brought in "the full number" of Gentiles.
