Again I ask: Did they stumble so as to fall beyond recovery? Not at all! Rather, because of their transgression, salvation has come to the Gentiles to make Israel envious.  But if their transgression means riches for the world, and their loss means riches for the Gentiles, how much greater riches will their full inclusion bring!” (Romans 11:11-12).  

 I do not want you to be ignorant of this mystery, brothers and sisters, so that you may not be conceited: Israel has experienced a hardening in part until the full number of the Gentiles has come in, and in this way all Israel will be saved. As it is written:

As far as the gospel is concerned, they are enemies for your sake; but as far as election is concerned, they are loved on account of the patriarchs, for God’s gifts and his call are irrevocable.  Just as you who were at one time disobedient to God have now received mercy as a result of their disobedience, so they too have now become disobedient in order that they too may now receive mercy as a result of God’s mercy to you. For God has bound everyone over to disobedience so that he may have mercy on them all” (Romans 11:25-32).  How is that supposed to work?

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It seems really strange.  We first read about the hard heart of the Jewish people from their own doing, and then God hardening their hearts.  He did this so that the fullness of the Gentiles could come in.  How did that work?  And why?

If we look at Paul’s teaching here and align it with the book of Acts, we see the puzzle pieces coming together.  And they do so for a significant purpose.

When the gospel was preached, the Lord wanted so much for His people to turn to him.  He said he was like a mother hen who wanted to gather her chicks (Mt 23:37) but they rejected Him.  They hardened their hearts.

Had they turned to him initially, they would have been commissioned as we see in the Old Testament to carry the message and be the light to the Gentiles.  But they would not.  Yet God would not be deterred.  Salvation would come to the Gentiles as well.  He was going to redeem this situation for his greater glory.

What did that look like?  In the book of Acts when the Jewish people hardened their hearts, they would reject the messengers and people of God.

In Acts 8 they killed Stephen.  From it persecution exploded and the people scattered.  When they scattered, they took the gospel far and wide.

“At that time there was a great persecution against the church which was at Jerusalem; and they were all scattered abroad…” (Acts 8:1)

“Now those who had been scattered by the persecution that broke out when Stephen was killed traveled as far as Phoenicia, Cyprus and Antioch, spreading the word only among Jews” (Acts 11:19).

Persecution was the expulsion force to send people to the nations around them.  They proclaimed the gospel wherever they went.

Now the apostles stayed.

Acts 8:1 — “And Saul was consenting unto his death. And at that time there was a great persecution against the church which was at Jerusalem; and they were all scattered abroad throughout the regions of Judaea and Samaria, except the apostles.”

So what did they do?  The apostles went about preaching the gospel first to the Jews and in the synagogues.  What happened?  The Jews rejected them.  So the apostles turned to the Gentiles.

• Acts 13:45–46 – Antioch of Pisidia

  “But when the Jews saw the crowds, they were filled with jealousy and began to contradict what was spoken by Paul, reviling him. And Paul and Barnabas spoke out boldly, saying, ‘It was necessary that the word of God be spoken first to you. Since you thrust it aside and judge yourselves unworthy of eternal life, behold, we are turning to the Gentiles.’”

• Acts 18:6 – Corinth

  “And when they opposed and reviled him, he shook out his garments and said to them, ‘Your blood be on your own heads! I am innocent. From now on I will go to the Gentiles.’”

• Acts 28:28 – Rome

  “Therefore let it be known to you that this salvation of God has been sent to the Gentiles; they will listen.”

The Jewish rejection of the gospel meant that gospel was preached to the Gentiles.  This was done in very hostile areas by the leaders, the apostles.  And was done by other believers who scattered because of the hostilities and went to the nations.

The Jewish unbelief meant that the Gentiles heard the gospel.  This was always the heart and plan of God.  That the Gentiles would here.

Back to Romans 11, Paul says that the Gentiles receiving the gospel that came out of the Jewish Scriptures will make the Jewish people jealous.  That jealousy will lead to them coming to the gospel as they see the fruits in the Jewish people.

The end result is that all receive the mercy of God.  The Gentiles hear and receive God’s mercy because the gospel came to them because of the Jewish hardness of heart.  And one day the Jews will turn to God and receive mercy as they become jealous and see the fruit of the gospel in the Gentiles.

“Just as you who were at one time disobedient to God have now received mercy as a result of their disobedience, so they too have now become disobedient in order that they too may now receive mercy as a result of God’s mercy to you.  For God has bound everyone over to disobedience so that he may have mercy on them all” (Romans 11:30-32).  

The result is God’s mercy goes to all – Jews and Gentiles alike.

 For there is no difference between Jew and Gentile—the same Lord is Lord of all and richly blesses all who call on him, for, “Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved” (Romans 10:12-13).  

It is a story of redemption on multiple levels.  It’s why Paul explodes in the following joy in the next verses (Rom 11:33-36):

“Oh, the depth of the riches of the wisdom and knowledge of God!
    How unsearchable his judgments,
    and his paths beyond tracing out!
“Who has known the mind of the Lord?
    Or who has been his counselor?”
 “Who has ever given to God,
    that God should repay them?”
 For from him and through him and for him are all things.
    To him be the glory forever! Amen.”