Romans 11:1, Has God Cast Away His People?
Romans 11:1 I say then, Hath God cast away his people? God forbid. For I also am an Israelite, of the seed of Abraham, of the tribe of Benjamin.
God has not cast away Israel. The Apostle Paul cited himself who trusted in Jesus Christ for his salvation as an example. His conversion is a marvellous example of God’s grace to save the rebellious. He was persecuting the church, incarcerating Christians before Jesus met him on the road to Damascus.
This was the account: Acts 9:1-9 And Saul, yet breathing out threatenings and slaughter against the disciples of the Lord, went unto the high priest, 2 And desired of him letters to Damascus to the synagogues, that if he found any of this way, whether they were men or women, he might bring them bound unto Jerusalem. 3 And as he journeyed, he came near Damascus: and suddenly there shined round about him a light from heaven: 4 And he fell to the earth, and heard a voice saying unto him, Saul, Saul, why persecutest thou me? 5 And he said, Who art thou, Lord? And the Lord said, I am Jesus whom thou persecutest: it is hard for thee to kick against the pricks. 6 And he trembling and astonished said, Lord, what wilt thou have me to do? And the Lord said unto him, Arise, and go into the city, and it shall be told thee what thou must do. 7 And the men which journeyed with him stood speechless, hearing a voice, but seeing no man. 8 And Saul arose from the earth; and when his eyes were opened, he saw no man: but they led him by the hand, and brought him into Damascus. 9 And he was three days without sight, and neither did eat nor drink.
Saul, Paul’s name before conversion, was blinded by the bright light from heaven in his encounter with Jesus Christ! He was in a miserable plight without his sight. He was soundly converted and healed. God will use this Jew to be a missionary to the Gentile nations – Acts 9:15-16 But the Lord said unto him, Go thy way: for he is a chosen vessel unto me, to bear my name before the Gentiles, and kings, and the children of Israel: 16 For I will shew him how great things he must suffer for my name’s sake.
As a Jew, he was a standing testimony of God’s amazing grace that He has not cast away Israel ! Amen.