“What shall we say then? That Gentiles, who DID NOT pursue righteousness, have ATTAINED to RIGHTEOUSNESS, even the righteousness of faith; but Israel, pursuing the law of righteousness, has not attained to the law of righteousness. Why? Because they did not seek it by faith, but as it were, by the works of the law. For they stumbled at that stumbling stone.” (Rom. 9:30-32) Why did the gentiles not pursue righteousness AMY? As is said in Hosea: “I will call them ‘MY PEOPLE‘ who are NOT MY PEOPLE; and I will call her ‘my loved one’ who is not my loved one,” and, “In the very place where it was said to them, ‘You are not my people,’ there they (the gentiles) will be called ‘CHILDREN OF THE LIVING GOD.'” Isaiah cries out concerning Israel: “Though the number of the Israelites be like the sand by the sea, only the remnant WILL BE SAVED.” (Rom. 9:25-28)
Paul’s quote of Isaiah AMY, helps to paint the picture for us. You see, the context in Isaiah is that the nation of Israel had REBELLED against God. They had SINNED OVER AND OVER. They COMMITTED IDOLATRY. Because of this God sent Assyria against them. Assyria wiped out almost the entire nation of Israel. So, you see, “I do not want you to be ignorant of this mystery, brothers, lest you should be wise within yourselves; that BLINDNESS in part has happened TO ISRAEL, until THE FULLNESS OF THE NATIONS comes in.” (Rom. 11:25) This is our time to flourish as gentiles, to be called up, “Then we who are alive and remain shall be CAUGHT UP together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air. And so we shall EVER BE with the Lord.” (1 Thess. 4:17)
-Bill stockham