Romans 9:6-9, The Word of Promise Will Be Fulfilled
Romans 9:6-9 (KJV) 6 Not as though the word of God hath taken none effect. For they are not all Israel, which are of Israel: 7 Neither, because they are the seed of Abraham, are they all children: but, In Isaac shall thy seed be called. 8 That is, They which are the children of the flesh, these are not the children of God: but the children of the promise are counted for the seed. 9 For this is the word of promise, At this time will I come, and Sara shall have a son.
The Apostle Paul clarifies not all who are of the nation of Israel will receive God’s spiritual blessings – For they are not all Israel, which are of Israel. Although the Jewish people have largely rejected the gospel, there is a remnant who are chosen by God whose spiritual eyes will be opened and shall be saved. This is best illustrated in Isaac and Ishmael, both physical sons of Abraham but only in Isaac is the God’s spiritual promise given.
In Genesis 17:19 (KJV), God said to Abraham, 19 … Sarah thy wife shall bear thee a son indeed; and thou shalt call his name Isaac: and I will establish my covenant with him for an everlasting covenant, and with his seed after him.” God will cause Sarah’s barren womb to be opened in her old age to bring forth this son of the covenant. Even the name of this child was given by God. This is the son Isaac through whom will fulfil God’s covenant with Abraham. At that time, Abraham had another son Ishmael who came from the womb of Sarah’s handmaid Hagar. Ishmael was not the son of promise. He came because Abraham and Sarah did not trust God and with impatience sought to “help God” fulfil His promise. God clarified with Abraham that Ishmael is not the son of promise that will bring forth the Messiah but Isaac.
Genesis 17:20-21 (KJV) 20 And as for Ishmael, I have heard thee: Behold, I have blessed him, and will make him fruitful, and will multiply him exceedingly; twelve princes shall he beget, and I will make him a great nation. 21 But my covenant will I establish with Isaac, which Sarah shall bear unto thee at this set time in the next year.
A year later, this promise was fulfilled as recorded in Genesis 21:1-8 (KJV) concerning Isaac’s birth, 1 And the LORD visited Sarah as he had said, and the LORD did unto Sarah as he had spoken. 2 For Sarah conceived, and bare Abraham a son in his old age, at the set time of which God had spoken to him. 3 And Abraham called the name of his son that was born unto him, whom Sarah bare to him, Isaac. 4 And Abraham circumcised his son Isaac being eight days old, as God had commanded him. 5 And Abraham was an hundred years old, when his son Isaac was born unto him. 6 And Sarah said, God hath made me to laugh, so that all that hear will laugh with me. 7 And she said, Who would have said unto Abraham, that Sarah should have given children suck? for I have born him a son in his old age. 8 And the child grew, and was weaned: and Abraham made a great feast the same day that Isaac was weaned.
Although there is great blindness in Israel today, the Jews largely rejected Jesus as their Messiah, God’s promise to Israel is not nullified. Rather, in the fulness of time, God’s promise for Israel will be fulfilled, the nation will turn to God again. We can be assured that God is true to His Word. We must patiently await its fulfilment. Amen.