Holy Fruit, Holy Root

The next section of Romans 11 is a very interesting one.  Here is what Paul writes in verses 11-18:  “¹¹ I say then, have they stumbled that they should fall? Certainly not! But through their all, to provoke them to jealousy, salvation has come to the Gentiles. ¹² Now if their fall is riches for the world, and their failure riches for the Gentiles, how much more their fullness!  ¹³ For I speak to you Gentiles; inasmuch as I am an apostle to the Gentiles, I magnify my ministry, ¹⁴ if by any means I may provoke to jealousy those who are my flesh and save some of them. ¹⁵ For if their being cast away is the reconciling of the world, what will their acceptance be but life from the dead?  ¹⁶ For if the firstfruit is holy, the lump is also holy; and if the root is holy, so are the branches. ¹⁷ And if some of the branches were broken off, and you, being a wild olive tree, were grafted in among them, and with them became a partaker of the root and fatness of the olive tree, ¹⁸ do not boast against the branches. But if you do boast, remember that you do not support the root, but the root supports you.”  There is more here than I have time to talk about.  Essentially Paul is reminding the Gentiles that the Israelite’s rejection of Jesus has opened the door for the Gentiles to experience salvation. He uses the metaphor of branches to discuss how the Gentiles were grafted into the Israelite vine.  Paul says something very interesting in the phrase, “remember that you do not support the root, but the root supports you”. The non-Jewish Gentiles are supported by the revelation and activity of God throughout His dealings and covenant with His people.  This activity of God is holy and “supports” God’s activity in the Gentile world.  Though not all Israel turned to Christ, Israel’s history is the “root”, the ongoing activity of God.  This “root” supports the Gentiles.  Though God did something unexpected in opening up the “holy fruit” of salvation to the Gentiles, Paul is saying that the root of this has always been in place.  The Gentiles should not look upon this root with disdain but rather gratitude.

What’s the application here?  I’m not completely sure…it’s probably multi-faceted.  For me today I am going to think about how God’s activity is not always as it seems and I need to remember and trust in how God is unfolding His world.  He’s revealing Himself in the way He desires. My talk is to trust Him….that’s your task also.