Contrary to Nature
The great Hebrew apostle continues his admonitions to Gentile believers with a double warning against pride. “Behold then the kindness and severity of Yahveh; to those who fell, severity, but to you [Gentiles], Yahveh’s kindness, if you continue in His kindness; otherwise you also will be cut off. …For if you were cut off from what is by nature a wild olive tree, and were grafted contrary to nature into a cultivated olive tree, how much more shall these [the Jews] who are the natural branches be grafted into their own olive tree?” (Romans 11:22-24)
Working in an olive grove, the practice is to graft cultivated olive branches into a wild olive tree, in order to improve the fruit of the wild olive. If the wild olive is grafted into the cultivated olive tree, the effect is reverse; the cultivated olive will run to wildness. Paul was well aware of the risk of grafting the Gentiles into the holy olive tree because it was “contrary to nature.”
Paul warned that the engrafted branches that do not take their nourishing sap from the holy root will eventually become withered; they will be fruitless branches, destined to be cut off as the natural branches (the Jews) are grafted back into their holy olive tree. To the church at Galatia, Paul wrote: “There is neither Jew nor Greek [Gentile], there is neither slave nor free man, there is neither male nor female, for you are all one in Messiah Yahshua (Jesus)” (Galatians 3:28). This passage does not negate the fact that Paul wrote of specific roles for males, females, Jews, and Gentiles within the body of Messiah. The Gentiles have been given a specific biblical mandate that is a safeguard against anti-Jewish attitudes, as well as a debt of obedience owed to their Savior.
The “engrafted branches” are to remember their hopeless condition as aliens apart from the God of Israel and His promises. They are to co-labor humbly with Yahshua (Jesus), the Great Shepherd, who is gathering His lost sheep of the house of Israel back to their God. The engrafted branches are to provoke the Jews to envy as they wholeheartedly embrace the holy Hebrew root, receive its nourishing sap, and worship the God of Israel in the reverence and holiness due His name.
The redeemed “wild olive branches” are to reflect Yahveh’s great mercy—the mercy He showed the Gentiles as He risked polluting the purity and strength of His holy olive tree when He grafted them in. This same mercy is to run as a river of life through the Gentiles as they co-labor with Yahshua (Jesus) in sharing His love and salvation with His brethren the Jews.
To this point in Christian history, many believers from Gentile backgrounds have neglected or ignored this vital mandate. It is time for a redeemed, humble remnant to tap into the holy Hebrew root in order to become spiritually healthy olive branches. Let all humble engrafted branches remember to guard their hearts against arrogance and conceit as they remember the apostle’s words to the Gentiles: “do not be arrogant … it is not you who supports the root, but the [Hebrew] root supports you” (Romans 11:18).
“For I do not want you, brethren, to be uninformed of this mystery, lest you be wise in your own estimation [conceited] that a partial hardening has happened to Israel until the fullness of the Gentiles has come in; and thus all Israel [the surviving Jewish remnant in the last days] will be saved … From the standpoint of the gospel they [the Jews] are Enemies for your sake, but from the standpoint of Yahveh’s choice they are beloved for the sake of the fathers [Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob]; for the gifts and the calling of Yahveh are irrevocable. For just as you once were disobedient to Yahveh, but now have been shown mercy because of their [the Jews’] disobedience, so these also now have been disobedient, in order that because of the mercy shown to you they also may now be shown mercy [through the redeemed Gentiles]. For Yahveh has shut up all in disobedience that He might show mercy to all.” (Romans 11:25-32)
May those who have ears to hear heed this warning: “Do not be conceited, but fear; for if Yahveh did not spare the natural branches, neither will He spare you” (Romans 11:20-21).
“Sing Aloud with Gladness for Jacob”
YAHshua (Jesus) continues to weep over the “lost sheep of the house of Israel” (Mt 10:6). He, along with heaven’s host, is longing to hear them say, “BLESSED IS HE [YAHshua] WHO COMES IN THE NAME OF YAHveh!” (Mt 23:39). Now is the time to favor Zion; those who bring the mercy, love, and Jewish essence of Messiah to His Jewish people are hastening the day of His return. Let the righteous remnant rejoice with YAHveh our Father over his son, Israel, who is like the prodigal son who “was dead, and has come to life again … was lost, and has been found” (Lk 15:24).
Like the prodigal son, a remnant of Israel will return to the Father. In gleaning understanding from this biblical illustration, there is a special warning that can be equally applicable to the Gentile brethren: Do not be like the jealous brother of the parable. Although this brother had been serving his father with sincerity, resentment for his sibling caused such rivalry that he refused to go in to the banquet. Your Father asks you, “Does not all that I have belong to you?” (see Lk 15:31)
Let us obey His commission and rejoice with him. “For thus says YAHveh, ‘Sing aloud with gladness for Jacob, And shout among the chiefs of the nations; Proclaim, give praise, and say, “O YAHveh, save Thy people, The remnant of Israel”’” (Jer 31:7).
A great spiritual banquet will be given as the remnant of Israel recognizes and embraces her Messiah. As in the parable of the prodigal son, many Jews will return to reverently embrace their heavenly Father. There will be the slaying of the fatted calf, which will bring bountiful blessings to the whole family of YAHveh. The main course of this joyful banquet will be a deeper revelation of YAHveh, the Father, and YAHshua, the Son. Those who come to the banquet will feast on many hidden scriptural treasures, which will be unsealed and presented to the righteous remnant that shares the Father’s joy.
We need to heed the words of Isaiah: For Zion’s sake I will not keep silent, And for Jerusalem’s sake I will not keep quiet, Until her righteousness goes forth like brightness, And her salvation like a torch that is burning. … On your walls, O Jerusalem, I have appointed watchmen; All day and all night they will never keep silent. You who remind YAHveh, take no rest for yourselves; And give Him no rest until He establishes And makes Jerusalem a praise in the earth. (Isa 62:1, 6-7)
