God Gives a “Stupor”?

In continuing to comment on Israel’s rejection of God through Jesus Christ Paul writes about how God actually “blinded” some of Israel.  Let’s read verses 7-1O of Romans 11:  What then? Israel has not obtained what it seeks; but the elect have obtained it, and the rest were blinded. Just as it is written:  “God has given them a spirit of stupor,  Eyes that they should not see  And ears that they should not hear,  To this very day.”  And David says:  “Let their table become a snare and a trap,  A stumbling block and a recompense to them.  10 Let their eyes be darkened, so that they do not see,  And bow down their back always.”  Paul is quoting from Moses in Deuteronomy, the prophet Jeremiah and David in Psalm 69.  In the Moses and Jeremiah passages, they are writing about the rebellion of God’s people. David writes about the thoughts of his enemies.  I mentioned previously that chapter 11 had some “difficult” passages that can offend our modern sensibilities of “fairness”.  It’s clear here that in the case of Israel, God did not give all of Israel eyes to see or ears to hear.  Did He do this because in His foreknowledge He already knew these wouldn’t believe? I guess that’s possible but the language suggests a more active involvement from God; not actually allowing them to see or hear.  I’ll go with this last thought, holding in tension God’s mercy and grace with His judgment and hatred of sin.  I’ll trust that if God wants to give someone “stupor” then it’s the right thing for Him to do. I’ll allow this to move me to thanksgiving that He has given me eyes to see and ears to hear.  I hope you will do the same.

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