The Tree of God
In Romans 11:16-24 we are given an image of a great tree. One designed and planted by God to bear fruit and bring him glory. This tree grew up to become the historical, biblical Israel that is told about from Genesis 12 and on. They (Israel) were to be God's representatives, chosen to be his vessel to bring blessing to the whole world.
Through hundreds of years and many judges, kings, exiles, and prophets, this tree remained, was preserved, and grew. When Jesus came, this tree was given the opportunity to grow all the more - and it would. Though not only through the natural means as it had been.
As we continue to read about this tree in Romans 11, we see that some of its branches (ethnic Jews) have been cut off. Why? Because of their unbelief. Their unbelief in what? The promise of God - namely Jesus Christ.
Then we also see that other branches are grafted in. Grafting is a process where a branch from another tree is bound to the tree until the tree accepts it and begins to nourish it as its own, growing bark around it to completely incorporate it as part of the tree.
The original tree does not change, the branch does - it becomes a part of the tree. These new branches (us, Gentiles) have become a part of this ancient Jewish tree - connected to, nourished, and supported by its roots. We have blended in and become a part of this tree and by an act of mercy and kindness, we now benefit from the root system (the promises, the covenants, and the faith) of biblical Israel.
What does this mean for the branches that have been cut off? Do they remain cut off? Paul answers us: by no means. As easily as God has grafted in new branches, how much more easily would he graft back in the original branches. And what does it take to be grafted back into this tree? Paul answers us again in verse 23: belief. Belief in what? Jesus as the son of God and fulfillment of the promise.
So, here we Gentiles stand, by the kindness of God, branches on the tree of Israel that we did not deserve to be grafted into, supported by a root system that is not our own - of Jewish heritage. And there they, the Jews, lay, cut off from their own tree by the severity of God (Rom. 11:22). Waiting to be grafted back in - which will happen the millisecond they see Jesus as he truly is. The Father will joyfully and with deep celebration pick them up and graft them back into his tree.
Romans 11 even goes on to say that they indeed will be grafted back in (Rom. 11:25-32). (Though only through faith in Jesus - there is no other way to the Father except through the Son. The same as all of us, the Jews have no hope outside of Jesus to be grafted back into their tree).
There is a promise here though, and a prophetic glimpse of what God plans to do one day, by lifting the temporary stupor they are in (defined as a state of near unconsciousness, Rom 11:8). Then the grafted branches and the original branches, after being grafted back in (with no distinction between Jew and Gentile), will be swaying side by side in the massive tree of God.
This prophetic “re-grafting” does not, however, negate the divine transfer we Gentiles have as part of this tree. There is no partial grafting, only one that makes the branch completely part of the tree, becoming partakers of all of the blessings of its roots: the promises, covenants, blessings, and mysteries.
The covenants and promises to biblical Israel that have yet to be fulfilled from the Old Testament and New, are not negated, but we as Gentiles are now included in the inheriting of them along our Jewish brothers and sisters. This is not a replacement, but a Gentile inclusion into the Jewish heritage. There are not two trees. There are not two peoples of God. There is one tree with Jewish roots and many different ethnic branches grafted in that will inherit all that was promised to the forefathers of faith together (Galatians 3).
This is also not a new concept. Gentile inclusion to Gods family, Israel, is scattered throughout the entire Bible - including in the lineage of Jesus (Rahab and Ruth to name a few). The Levitical law also gives specific instruction as to what Israel was to do when a Gentile wanted to follow Yahweh. God has always been about the salvation of the world and the full inclusion of Gentiles (Numb. 15:15-16, Ex. 12:48-49, Num. 9:14).
So where does this leave ethnic Jewish people today? Are they special? They are in as much as there is a promise that a vast majority of them will be grafted back into their own tree, a tree now littered with branches from all nations, just the way God always dreamed up (which is also a prophetic promise given to us Gentiles that we see in Rev. 7:9). Jews and Gentiles alike both given a prophetic promise of being included and grafted in (or back in) to the family of God. From a scriptural standpoint, this is God's “special plan” for the Jews - to save them. To regraft them into their own tree. Then, we together move forward as one people - the people of God.
And we should pray to that end. I pray and wait with eager expectation for the Romans 11 revival that will one day sweep through Jewish communities as they come to know Jesus as God and King. I pray with excitement for what that could mean for my Palestinian friends. What they could mean for the world. As Paul says, “if their rejection brought reconciliation to the world - what would their acceptance mean but life from the dead?”
I’ll end with the last part of Romans 11, which I think is beautiful:
“For just as you (Gentile) were at one time disobedient to God but now have received mercy because of their (Jewish) disobedience, so they (Jew) too have now been disobedient in order that by the mercy shown to you they also may now receive mercy. For God has given over all to disobedience that he may have mercy on all.
Oh the depth of the riches and the wisdom and knowledge of God!” - Romans 11:30-33
He loves to show mercy - and he has orchestrated the plan and unfolding of history to allow him to dispense so much more mercy than we could ever dream.