Rom. 11:11; Deuteronomy 28:63-68; 32:23-27

Paul asked if God cast away His people (11:1).  The answer was no, but they had stumbled (v9).  Now he asks, “Have they stumbled that they should fall?”  This is a legitimate question to raise as to whether this stumbling is permanent.  When Judah was carried off to Babylon and Jerusalem and the temple were destroyed the Scriptures said that God in His anger had “finally cast them out from His presence” (2 Kings 24:20).  It might be a good question today, given the history of the Jews who have suffered great persecution.  Here are a few instances. (Page numbers are from: The History of the Jews, Frederich Schweitzer and The Return of Jesus Christ, Rene Pache.)

·        8^th and 6^th centuries BC: deportations by Assyrians and Babylonians.

·        2^nd century BC: Antiochus Epiphanes sought to destroy the Jewish religion by imposing Hellenism on Jewish worship.

·        70AD Rome destroyed Jerusalem (Lk. 21:20-24).  With no temple, atonement was no longer by sacrifice but by “deeds of loving kindness” (FS p44).

·        8-11^th AD: A Jewish bloodbath preceded each Crusade. (RP, p308)

·        1096AD: 12,000 Jews killed in Rhineland.  1290: Jews expelled from England (readmitted 370 years later).  1298: 100,000 Jews killed in Franconia, Bavaria and Austria.  1306: 100,000 Jews expelled from France.  1492: the inquisition drove 300,000 Jews from Spain.  1648-1658: 400,000 Jews killed during the war between Russia, Poland and Sweden. (FS p308f)

·        1348AD: blamed for the black plague over a million Jews were killed.  1600s: persecution arose around both the Renaissance and Reformation.  (RP, p309).

·        1800s: Russian Czars killed, expelled or force-converted hundreds of thousands of Jews.  In the Holocaust Hitler’s pursuit of a pure race led to the killing of 4.5-6 million Jews.  In the Warsaw ghetto alone 600,000 Jews were cut to 43,000 who were then eliminated trying to make a stand. (FS p43)

Many believed they were doing God a favor.  Babylon made this claim: “We have not offended, because they have sinned against the LORD” (Jer. 50:7).  Today’s passage says God had promised all this to Israel if she persisted in disobedience and rebellion.  But it also says (Deut. 32:26f) that God would not allow the nations to completely annihilate them lest they become proud.  As with Assyria and Babylon, God has used the nations to punish His people but has then brought judgment upon those nations for their excessive hatred and pride.

We said that Paul’s question might be a good question today.  But amazingly after all the terror, torture and tribulation, there is a Jewish nation since 1948.  This would seem to be proof that God still has a plan and future for Israel.  The regathering has begun; can the cleansing be far behind (Ezek. 36:24-28)?  

Let us be reminded that God keeps His word.  He keeps His promises of salvation.  And He keeps His promises of judgment.