“I say then, have they stumbled that they should fall? Certainly not! But through their fall, to provoke them to jealousy, salvation has come to the Gentiles. Now if their fall is riches for the world, and their failure riches for the Gentiles, how much more their fullness!” – Romans 11:11-12
Israel’s rejection of Christ was not the end of their story, nor did it mean God had cast them away forever. Instead, their fall became part of God’s great plan to bring salvation to the Gentiles. What looked like failure was actually the doorway through which the gospel spread to the nations. God’s purposes are always restorative, even when they seem hidden. Just as Joseph told his brothers, “But as for you, you meant evil against me; but God meant it for good” (Genesis 50:20), so Israel’s rejection was used by God to bring riches of grace to the world.
Paul reminds us that if Israel’s fall brought blessing to the Gentiles, how much greater will the blessing be when Israel is restored. Their rejection opened the door, but their acceptance will magnify God’s glory even more. This shows us the heart of God—He is not finished with His people, and He is not finished with us. What looks like stumbling in our lives can still be used by God to accomplish His purposes. Think of Peter, who denied Christ three times, yet was later restored and became a pillar of the early church. God takes what seems broken and turns it into something fruitful.
The call to us is clear: trust God’s plan even when circumstances look like failure. If He can use Israel’s rejection to bring salvation to the nations, He can use your trials to bring about His purposes. Don’t let discouragement convince you that God is finished with you. Instead, surrender your setbacks to Him and watch how He transforms them into blessings. Today, let us walk in faith, knowing that God is always working toward restoration, and that His purposes will not fail.
“The fall of the Jews was the riches of the world, and their diminishing the riches of the Gentiles; that is, the rejection of the Jews, and the calling of the Gentiles, was the means of spreading the Gospel among the nations, and of bringing many souls to the knowledge of Christ, and of the riches of his grace. How much more their fulness, when they shall be converted in the latter day, and be restored to their own land, and enjoy all the privileges of the Gospel church state!” – John Gill
surrendered devotions 