Israel’s chastening is well documented prophetically even by Moses. In one of his last sermons to the Children of Israel recorded in Deuteronomy, Moses related the LORD’s prophetic warning. Israel was essentially warned that if they would not keep the Laws of the LORD, He would provoke them to be “jealous.”

“I will make them jealous with those who are not a people; I will provoke them to anger with a foolish nation….” (Deuteronomy 32:22 NAS) 36

Apostle Paul quotes Deuteronomy in Romans 10:19 to explain the change that had then occurred in the relationship between God and Israel. The “middle wall of partition” (Ephesians 2:14) separating Israel from Gentiles was broken down and the Gentiles through Christ now could have access to the LORD God—and benefits they never before had.

But Paul who was commissioned to preach to the Gentiles deeply loved his kinsmen of Israel. As he wrote to the First Century Church at Rome, he told them how he could wish “to be accursed and cut off from Christ” for his brethren’s sake.

“I have great heaviness and continual sorrow in my heart. For I could wish that myself were accursed from Christ [Messiah] for my brethren, my kinsmen according to the flesh: who are Israelites; to whom pertaineth the adoption, and the glory, and the covenants, and the giving of the law, and the service of God, and the promises ” (Romans 9:2-4)

Olive Tree Branch

What motivated such a concern and love for Israel? Paul was a staunch believer from the day of his personal revelation of Christ on the Road to Damascus. His commission to bear the name of Jesus before “Gentiles and kings and the sons of Israel” was always in his heart. Yes, Jesus would show Paul “how great things he must suffer for my [Jesus’] name’s sake” (Acts 9:16) at the hands of the Gentiles—as well as his Jewish brethren.[Jesus’] name’s sake” (Acts 9:16) at the hands of the Gentiles—as well as his Jewish brethren.

Saul’s Conversion on the Road to Damascus

As mentioned in Romans, Chapter 11, Paul explained that although Israel’s rejection meant the reconciliation of the world, Israel’s being received back into favor would mean the long-awaited resurrection of the dead! So, in fact, Israel’s future prosperity actually holds similar brightness and hope for the whole world.

“For if their [Israel’s] rejection is the recon- ciliation of the world, what will their acceptance be but life from the dead?” (Romans 11:15 NIV)

Incidentally, Paul cautioned the Gentile believers not to “boast against” Israel. He reminded them that as Gentiles they were branches of a “wild olive tree” grafted into the “cultivated” tree—rooted in the Abrahamic promise. So the Gentiles could be just as easily cut off by the LORD if unfaithful, and then replaced by Israelites—the branches that were originally cut off. (Romans 11:17-24)