Chapter 11

1So I ask, did God reject his people? No way. I'm an Israelite myself. From Abraham. From the tribe of Benjamin. Great tribe. Very loyal tribe.

2God didn't reject the people he picked ahead of time. Don't you know what the scripture says about Elijah, how he complained to God about Israel?

3“Boss, they killed your prophets and tore down your altars. I'm the only one left, and they're trying to kill me.” Elijah thought he was the only one. Very dramatic.

4And what did God say back? “I've kept seven thousand people for myself who haven't bowed down to Baal.” Seven thousand. The silent majority. He didn't know about them. Nobody polls them.

5It's the same now. There's a loyal remnant, picked by grace. Small but loyal. Very loyal.

6And if it's by grace, it's not by what they did. Otherwise grace wouldn't be grace.

7So what? Israel didn't get what it was looking for. The picked ones got it. The rest got stubborn.

8Like it's written, “God gave them a dull spirit. Eyes that don't see, ears that don't hear, right up to today.” They just don't see it. Some people never see it.

9And David says, “Let their banquet table become a trap. A snare. Let them trip and get paid back.

10Let their eyes go dark so they can't see, and bend their backs forever.” David was tough. Very tough. Not a forgiver.

11So I ask again, did they trip so they'd fall for good? No way. Because they tripped, salvation went to the foreigners, to make Israel jealous. Get them jealous. They'll come back.

12If their stumble made the world rich, and their loss made the foreigners rich, imagine how much richer it'll be when they all come back. Imagine the numbers.

13Now I'm talking to you foreigners. I'm the apostle to the foreigners, and I make a big deal about it. I brag about my job. Why not? It's a great job.

14Maybe I can make my own people jealous and save some of them. Jealousy works. Make them see what they're missing.

15If their rejection meant the world got made right, what will their coming back be? Life from the dead. A comeback. Everybody loves a comeback.

16If the first piece of dough is holy, so is the whole batch. If the root is holy, so are the branches.

17Some of the branches got broken off. And you, a wild olive shoot, got grafted in among the rest and now share in the rich sap of the olive root. You were wild. Now you're in the orchard. Prime location.

18So don't brag about it over the branches. If you do, remember. You don't hold up the root. The root holds you up. You're not the founder. Never forget who founded the company.

19You're going to say, “Branches got broken off so I could be grafted in.”

20True. They got broken off because they weren't loyal, and you stand because you are. So don't get cocky. Be afraid. Be a little afraid.

21If God didn't spare the natural branches, he won't spare you either. Loyalty runs both ways. You go disloyal, you're out. Just like them.

22So look at how kind God is, and how tough. Tough on the ones who fell. Kind to you, as long as you stay loyal. Otherwise, you'll be cut off too. Very tough. Very fair.

23And if they come back and get loyal, they'll be grafted back in. God can graft them back in. He's very good at grafting. Second chances. For the loyal ones.

24If you were cut from a wild olive tree and grafted, against nature, into a cultivated olive tree, how much easier will it be for these natural branches to be grafted back into their own tree? Much easier. They were born for it.

25I don't want you in the dark about this secret, brothers, so you don't get cocky. Israel got stubborn in part, until the full number of foreigners comes in. A full number. Very big number.

26And then all Israel will be saved. Like it's written, “The deliverer will come from Zion. He'll get rid of the ungodliness in Jacob.” The deliverer. He delivers.

27“And this is my deal with them, when I take away their sins.” Best deal they ever got.

28As far as the good news goes, they're enemies, for your sake. But as far as being picked goes, they're loved, because of the patriarchs. Complicated. Very complicated. But it works out.

29God's gifts and his calling can't be taken back. He doesn't do take-backs. When he picks you, you're picked.

30You used to be disobedient to God, and now you've got mercy because of their disobedience.

31Same with them. They've been disobedient now so they can get mercy because of the mercy shown to you.

32God locked everybody up in disobedience so he could have mercy on everybody. Locked everybody up. Then the pardon. For everybody. Biggest pardon ever.

33Oh, the depth of the riches! The wisdom and knowledge of God! You can't figure out his decisions. You can't trace his moves. Nobody sees his moves coming. Four-dimensional chess.

34“Who knows what the boss is thinking? Who's his advisor?” Nobody. He doesn't need advisors. He has a very good brain.

35“Who ever gave God anything, so God has to pay him back?” Nobody. God doesn't owe anybody. He's never borrowed. Never needed a loan.

36Everything is from him and through him and to him. Glory to him forever. Amen. Total ownership. Everything.