1. Abraham – Gen. 12:10-20 Famine Promised blessing To Egypt Feared due to wife’s beauty (like me) Lied to pagan ruler (Sis) Wife taken/endangered Got caught Cared for by God anyway Dumb to do this Isaac – Gen. 26 Famine Promised blessing Told not to go to Egypt Feared due to wife’s beauty (like me) Lied to pagan ruler (Sis) Wife taken/endangered Got caught Cared for by God anyway Dumb to do this

2. Abraham had repeated his sin a second time before Isaac’s sin - Gen. 20.

3. One clear message in this passage = The faithfulness of God to His promises to Israel.

4. Abraham was now dead (Gen. 25). What would now happen to those who came after him?

5. The God who had promised Abraham will do as He said and be faithful to Abraham’s descendants. Rom. 11

7. Biblical Time Line Ascension Rapture Return Eternal Church Age Trib. Kingdom State OT NT 7 years 1,000 years

8. Romans 11 – Israel’s destiny will be realized! God’s grace has led to a remnant - 1-6 All this was predicted - 7-9 The rejection is not final - 11-16 “Are you out of your tree?” - 17-24 National Israel will be restored - 25-32 Paul is blown away - 33-36

9. God’s grace has led to a remnant (1-6) Even though Israel has been rejected, God’s grace has left believing Israelites to “represent” the nation.

10. All this was predicted (7-9) God was not caught “off-guard” by any of this, but is in control of the future of the world and His people.

11. The rejection is not final (11-16) God is not done with His people and His ultimate purpose to bring Israel back into a favored standing will be realized one day.

12. “Are you out of your tree?” (17-24) While it is true that Israel is no longer a channel for God to accomplish His purposes, it is not true that He cannot, nor will not, use Israel again in the future.

13. The “Olive Tree” Root = Abraham (AC = blessing) Natural Branches = National Israel Branches grafted in = Gentile believers

14. Galatians 3:8-9, 27 8 And the Scripture, foreseeing that God would justify the Gentiles by faith, preached the gospel to Abraham beforehand, saying, “In you all the nations shall be blessed.” 9 So then those who are of faith are blessed with believing Abraham… 26 For you are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus.

15. “Are you out of your tree?” (17-24) The Gentiles should be careful not to become proud of their current status as channels for God’s purposes and should maintain their faith, their response of believing the gospel.

16. “Are you out of your tree?” (17-24) Mt. 13:31-33 We have Satanic “birds” on the tree that has grown so large and now weigh it down and leaven is corrupting the teaching of the Church. The failure of the Gentiles is becoming clear.

17. National Israel will be restored (25-32) In the past, the elevation of the Gentiles was not known. The concept of the Church was a “mystery”. Rom. 16:25-27; Eph. 3:4-6

18. National Israel will be restored (25-32) One day, all Israel will be saved from wrath and come to faith.

19. National Israel will be restored (25-32) One day, the “partial hardening” will be lifted. Events in our present day indicate we are very close to this happening.

20. National Israel will be restored (25-32) After thousands of year, what we see reaffirmed to Isaac and later Jacob, we see still being a priority of our Lord for “the gifts and calling of God are irrevocable”!

21. Paul is blown away (33-36) The splendor and magnificence of God’s plan causes an emotional, and appropriate, outburst of praise from Paul!

22. So what? #1 God is not done with Israel. Far from it. We should be careful to realize Israel is still very much in the plans and purposes of God.

23. So what? #2 Though loved because of the fathers, national Israel is at odds with God over the truth of the Gospel.

24. So what? #3 God’s work through the Gentiles depends on our continued adherence and responsiveness to the Gospel.

25. So what? #4 Rather than allow the world’s course to distress us entirely, we should join Paul in marveling at, and trusting in, the plan and purpose of God.

26. So what? #5 We need to be careful to not repeat the mistakes of Abraham and Isaac when, after hearing the promise of God, they panicked and allowed fear to rule their behavior.

27. So what? #6 Simply put, God keeps His Word.