“If some of the branches have been broken off, and you, though a wild olive shoot, have been grafted in among the others and now share in the nourishing sap from the olive root, do not consider yourself to be superior to those other branches. If you do, consider this: You do not support the root, but the root supports you.” (Romans 11:17f)

Signs of the times

You would have to be from another planet not to be acutely aware that we are living in very troubled times. We could well now be witnessing the opening exchanges of the end-time battles which will lead to great tribulation, especially for Israel. But it will be at such a time that the Lord appears on the Mt of Olives (Zech 14:4), as promised both by Zechariah and the angels following Jesus’ ascension (Acts 1:11).

Leading up to this time, he will have increasingly revealed himself to his ancient people (Zech 12:10), making this one of the most significant events in the run-up to his return. There are many signs, but this is the crucial one.

Times of the Gentiles

When Jesus first came, they didn’t recognise the time of his coming (Matt 23:39). So the baton was soon passed to the Gentiles. But now the times of the Gentiles, to which our Lord referred, appears to be coming to a close (Luke 21:24), with Israel back in the land and in charge of much of their ancient territory, not to mention becoming a major player on the world stage.

Are the Gentile Christians now guilty of failing to recognise the time of God’s visitation in bringing his people back from the nations and witnessing the early stages of their collective eyes being opened?

Israel’s ‘apartheid’?

Many don’t even recognise modern Israel as being in any way connected to the Israel of the Bible. Much of today’s Western Church, certainly here in Britain, falls into this category, believing that somehow the church has replaced Israel in God’s eternal purposes. But this theory has no scriptural basis.

The national bodies of several denominations have brazenly voted to boycott Israel as punishment for their supposed ‘apartheid’ policies, which is a dreadful lie in itself.

Yet the national bodies of several denominations have brazenly voted to boycott Israel as punishment for their supposed ‘apartheid’ policies, which is a dreadful lie in itself. One brave South African Methodist minister has resigned his post in protest, sacrificing the house that came with his job – and he has a wife and five children to look after. This is the time of the great falling away predicted in the New Testament (1 Timothy 4:1, 2 Tim 3:1-5). But it’s also a chance for the true disciples to stand up and be counted.

It’s all God’s world

Recognising the time of our Lord’s visitation is so crucial and is key to understanding what is really happening in the world (spiritually as well as physically, geographically and politically). In Hebraic (biblical) thought, it is all God’s world, and is not divided into secular and sacred compartments.

Cyrus was a secular king over a great empire, but God used him to restore his exiled people. And whether you like him or not, former US President Donald Trump has been used by God to recognise Israel’s historic right to Jerusalem and much more. I don’t suppose Cyrus was a flawless character either.

Jewish roots of faith

We need to see the bigger picture. Not conforming to the world isn’t just about our moral behaviour, but about our understanding of what is happening in the world. Romans 12:2 says we should not be conformed to the world but be transformed by the renewing of our mind. In the context, this is with particular reference to God’s purposes for the Jewish people, fully explained in Romans 9-11.

Whether you like him or not, former US President Donald Trump has been used by God to recognise Israel’s historic right to Jerusalem and much more.

At 7,000 words, and reputed to have been the longest (and probably most significant) letter written in the ancient world, the book of Romans was specifically written to remind the Gentiles at Rome of the Jewish roots of their faith. Problems arose when Claudius expelled the Jews in 49 AD, so the Gentile believers naturally had to step up to the plate. But only six years later, in 55 AD, Nero (who knew they were good for business) invited them back. The Gentile leaders had grown arrogant, perhaps thinking they no longer needed the guidance and insight of their Jewish brothers.

Grafted inOlive branches (photo pixabay)

So Paul reminded them that they had been grafted into the natural ‘olive tree’ that was Israel by virtue of the grace of the gospel. And that they now shared “in the nourishing sap from the olive root” (Rom 11:17), adding: “You do not support the root, but the root supports you” (v18). Earlier, he had said that “if the root is holy, so are the branches” (v16).

All of which boils down to the fact that if we cut off our Judaic roots, we have stopped the supply of the “nourishing sap” that keeps the olive tree alive, and far from being able to look forward to feasting on a fruitful harvest, we are instead destined to wither and die.

Results of denying Israel

There is no doubt about it, a plant or tree separated from its roots will die – and fast. If the Church decides to have nothing to do with Israel or the Jewish people, it will not be long before it withers and dies. Take a look at the Anglicans and Methodists in South Africa, Presbyterians in America and others passing resolutions to boycott Israel and so forth.

Are the Methodists, for example, rattling any cages these days, as their founder John Wesley did? Wesley fully understood that God had a glorious future for Israel in mind, that he intended to restore the Israelites to the land, and to the Lord – as did Baptist giant Charles Spurgeon along with Anglican evangelical legends like Bishop J. C. Ryle, Charles Simeon and William Wilberforce.

Are the Methodists, for example, rattling any cages these days, as their founder John Wesley did?

Therefore …

It’s so important to read Scripture in context, for Romans 9-11 – the key chapters dealing with God’s great plans for his ancient people – is immediately followed by a ‘therefore’ – and as we all know, when you see one of those, you should always ask yourself what it’s there for! What Paul is saying is (to use my own paraphrase):

“In view of God’s mercy in allowing you Gentiles to benefit from the temporary hardening of Jewish hearts, we are to offer our bodies as living sacrifices, especially in not conforming to the pattern of this world (a key aspect of which is to reject the chosen people), but to be transformed by the renewing of our minds. Only then will we be able to test and approve what God’s will is” (see Rom 12:1f).

To the Jew first

It is God’s will that all Israel will one day be saved (Rom 11:26, Zech 12:10, Rev 1:7) and that they will be restored to fellowship with the God who has cherished and loved them throughout the past 5,000 years or so. It is therefore incumbent upon us Gentiles to help with this process as we preach the gospel to the Jew first, and also to the Gentile (Rom 1:16).

The withering of the branches not connected to the roots – a drought resulting from a famine of the word – can, I suggest, also be compared to the potential drought (literally) to be experienced by the survivors from the nations who attack Jerusalem, spoken of by Zechariah. We will look at that next week.