Thoughts on Romans 11:5-14

“What then? that which Israel seeketh for, that he obtained not; but the election obtained it, and the rest were hardened” (Romans 11:7)

Israel was seeking for salvation from God but did not obtain it because they thought they could acquire it through the “works” found in the Law.

The Elected (not the rejected) were able to obtain salvation because they accepted God’s grace (Jesus Christ. Titus 2:11)

“According as it is written, God gave them a spirit of stupor, eyes that they should not see, and ears that they should not hear, unto this very day” (Romans 11:8)

The “spirit of stupor” was given to those who were seeking salvation by the works of the Law and in doing so rejected God’s grace (Jesus Christ). God did not make them stupid so they couldn’t accept Christ, they had already rejected Jesus because they could not see past the Law. He allowed them to steep in their stupor.

If Paul who wrote this truly believed that God was hiding Jesus Christ from the Jews he would not risk his life teaching in their synagogues on a daily basis.

God himself tried to trump this “spirit of stupor” by extending his grace to the non-Jews to create a “spirit of jealousy” (Romans 11:14) to open their eyes so they could see Jesus Christ.

The non-believing Jews would become jealous of the Roman Christians as they saw their spiritual blessings transferred to Roman (non-Jewish) Christians. Things like the Apostles, miracles and other wonderful things from God.