The importance of Israel to eyes of God

"Would God have rejected His people ? Absolutely not !" Romans 11. 1

Because of the great number of its infidelities, Israel was scattered among all peoples (Deut.28: 64). Yet, God will show His grace towards Him. The Messiah, the Savior of the world, will be born to him : "Today in the city of David you are born a savior, who is Christ, the Lord" (Luke 2:11).

Paul evangelized his Jewish brothers with great love. Those who have recognized Jesus as the Messiah are part of the Church. What will become of those who have refused ? Paul explains this in the Epistle to the Romans with the parable of the two olive trees (Romans 11: 16-24), one savage and the other cultivated. Both symbolize a type of relationship with God :

The wild olive represents the Gentiles who reject God : his anger "is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and iniquity of men" (Rom.1: 18).

The cultivated olive tree is the offspring of Abraham, in whom God has chosen a people. This tree has as its root the faith of the patriarch who was "counted for righteousness" (Romans 4: 3) so that, as "the root is holy, the branches are also holy" (Romans 11: 16). Yet, branches of the cultivated olive tree have been "torn" : these are the unbelieving Jews (Romans 11:20). And branches of the wild olive tree were grafted on the cultivated olive tree (v. 17) : these are the converted pagans. As for the Jews who "do not persevere in unbelief ... God is powerful to graft them again" on their olive tree (v.23). Through these images, Paul emphasizes the principle of faith as the only way to be justified before God.

He also indicates that the incredulity of a part of the people is momentary, for God will renew his relations with him. Moreover, it permits the period of the Gospel, for "by their fall (that of the Jews) salvation reaches the nations" (Rom 11:11).

In the end, it was through this repentant people, who remained his people, that God will return to humanity, according to the promise made to Abraham : "I will make you become a great nation ... in you will be blessed all the families of the earth" (Gen. 12: 2, 3).

If God used the fall of Israel to bless the nations, how great is the blessing of the world when Israel recognizes the Messiah and repents that he has "pierced" it (Zech. 12: 10) that is to say, nailed to a cross. That day Jesus Christ will establish His kingdom on earth and Israel will reign with Him.

Source (To pleasing the Lord)