Mercy and Grace! His indisputable, undeniable, unfathomable, irreplaceable, sovereign, humbling, unmerited, necessary, unmeasureable, never-ending, overwhelming, amazing mercy and grace!
In Chapter 2 of Esther, the Beauty of Courageous Submission, Mrs. Schacht helps us to understand the symbolism in comparing Vashti/Esther to the children of Israel/the Gentiles (you and me) who are saved by grace.
What then? What Israel is seeking, it has not obtained, but those who were chosen obtained it, and the rest were hardened; just as it is written, “God gave them a spirit of stupor, eyes to see not and ears to hear not, down to this very day.” And David says, “Let their table become a snare and a trap, and a stumbling block and a retribution to them. Let their eyes be darkened to see not, and bend their backs forever.” I say then, they did not stumble so as to fall, did they? May it never be! But by their transgression salvation has come to the Gentiles, to make them jealous. Now if their transgression is riches for the world and their failure is riches for the Gentiles, how much more will their fulfillment be!
Verses 7-12
So incredible! The Amplified Bible translates verse 12: “Now if their stumbling (their lapse, their transgression) has so enriched the world [at large], and if [Israel’s] failure means such riches for the Gentiles, think what an enrichment and greater advantage will follow their full reinstatement!” Such proof of God’s mercy and grace!
I would like to look further into Chapter 11 of the Book of Romans to see more of the mercy and grace of our God.
Quite right, they were broken off for their unbelief, but you stand by your faith. Do not be conceited, but fear; for if God did not spare the natural branches, He will not spare you, either. Behold then the kindness and severity of God; to those who fell, severity, but to you, God’s kindness, if you continue in His kindness; otherwise you also will be cut off.
For just as you once were disobedient to God, but now have been shown mercy because of their disobedience, so these also now have been disobedient, that because of the mercy shown to you they also may now be shown mercy. For God has shut up all in disobedience so that He may show mercy to all.
Verses 20-22, 30-32
From the beginning, God’s heart has always been for His people, Israel. We know from reading through the Old Testament of His covenant relationship with the Israelites accompanied by His patience and long-suffering. But a time came when enough was enough! The Israelites/Jews/Hebrews rejected His Son, the Redeemer.
In John 1:10 and 11, it says about Jesus that “He was in the world, and the world was made through Him, and the world did not know Him. He came to His own, and those who were His own did not receive Him.”
There is a record of Jesus interacting with the Jews in John chapter 10 where they were seemingly taunting Him…at the end of this exchange, they picked up stones to stone Him—and not for the first time either!
The Jews then gathered around Him…saying to Him, “How long will You keep us in suspense? If You are the Christ, tell us plainly.” Jesus answered them, “I told you, and you do not believe; the works that I do in My Father’s name, these testify of Me. But you do not believe because you are not of My sheep” (verses 24-26).
And Jesus was not only rejected…they demanded His execution. Remember the scene in the courtyard when Pilate was determining Jesus’ fate? link The crowd called out to ‘Crucify him!’ Standing in the balance was the choice between Barrabas (an insurgent charged with robbery and murder) and Jesus—they chose to set Barrabas free. And Jesus was taken to be crucified.
Of course we know that all of this was the plot of satan thinking that he could bring an end to God’s plan. But the Jews were instrumental and played right into satan’s hand.
The Apostle Paul wrote quite a bit about the Israelites.
Brothers and sisters, my heart’s desire and prayer to God for the Israelites is that they may be saved. For I can testify about them that they are zealous for God, but their zeal is not based on knowledge. Since they did not know the righteousness of God and sought to establish their own, they did not submit to God’s righteousness. Christ is the culmination of the Law so that there may be righteousness for everyone who believes.
Romans 10:1-4
Amazing mercy that God would choose to alter His original plan and bring us in along with His chosen ones! Because, you see, He still desires for Israel to repent and make Jesus their Lord! Listen to this expression of God’s love for those He selected to be His chosen ones:
Just as you who were at one time disobedient to God
have now received mercy as a result of their disobedience,
so they too have now become disobedient in order that they too
may now receive mercy as a result of God’s mercy to you.
Romans 11:30 and 31
Perhaps we are tempted to wonder why Almighty God would choose to do this…why would He make a change to His plan? But let’s not…instead may we be thankful for His plan. May we humbly acknowledge and praise Him for how AWEsome He is!
Oh, the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God!
How unsearchable are His judgments and unfathomable His ways!
For from Him and through Him and to Him are all things.
To Him be the glory forever. Amen.
Romans 11:33, 36
* * * * *
Almighty God, we humbly acknowledge Your sovereign wisdom, Your unsearchable judgments, Your unfathomable ways! We stand in awe and gratitude of Your grace…Your mercy towards all mankind! And we thank You for applying that mercy and grace to us—who were grafted in—by Your plan. We love You, Father!
Amen!
