1.4 We Are Grafted In

Verse: Romans 11:18 do not be arrogant toward the branches. If you are, remember it is not you who
support the root, but the root that supports you.

Read: Romans 11, Matthew 12:1-14; Luke 6:6-11; Luke 13:10-17

Also read “Gentiles in the Olive Tree” article by Sam Nadler (http://www.messianicassociation.org/ezine17-sn.olive.htm)

Excerpt from Sam Nadler Article “Gentiles in the Olive Tree”:

In Romans 11 there are two key points Paul wants us to understand: first, God has not rejected Israel; and second, the olive tree is Israel’s present reminder of their future national salvation in Yeshua. In Scripture, Israel is pictured as a veritable garden of God:

1) The Fig tree, biblically symbolized Israel’s national life, (Hos. 9:10; Mk. 11:12-14, 20; Matt. 24:32-34).

2) The Vine, biblically symbolized Israel’s spiritual life, (Isa. 5:1-7; Ps. 80:9; Hos. 10:1, Jn. 15:1-6).

3)The Olive tree, biblically symbolized Israel's ministerial or service life, (Jer. 11:16, Hos. 14:6; Rom. 11:16-24).

In Romans 9:4, 5 Paul reiterates Israel’s privileges of service, and represents that service with the Olive Tree. As every part of the Olive Tree was used in holy service, it came to typify Israel’s holy service for God

End of Excerpt. from Sam Nadler Article “Gentiles in the Olive Tree”

All Israel is not Israel.

Israel is not counted according to the genetic line of Abraham but rather the character line of Abraham’s faith in YHWH (Genesis 15:6)

Rom 9:7-8  And they are not all the children of Abraham because they are by blood his descendants. No, [the promise was] your descendants will be called and counted through the line of Isaac [though Abraham had an older son]. [Gen 21:9-12.]

That is to say, it is not the children of the body [of Abraham] who are made God's children, but it is the offspring to whom the promise applies that shall be counted [as Abraham's true] descendants. AMP

See also: 1 Corinthians 10:1-12

Abraham believed God and it was counted to him as righteousness. Belief (or faith) is the principle ingredient in the line of Abraham. The Hebrew understanding of “belief” includes action; it was not just “mental ascent”. How far did Abraham’s action take him? Abraham accompanied Isaac all the way up the mountain to offer his promised son as a sacrifice to YHWH. All the other promises God gave to Abraham were contingent upon him having a son.

There could be no family without a son, nobody to bless without a family, and no “nation” as numerous as the stars in the sky and the sands of the shore. After waiting years for Isaac to be born, and still years later till he was a young man, Abraham brought everything he realized out of the promises of YHWH up until this moment and presented it again as on offering to YHWH. It was at this time that YHWH fully trusted him (Genesis 22:9). God provided the   substitute and Abraham realized that YHWH was indeed YHWH Yireh, the Lord who provides. (Genesis 22:14)

Abraham’s line is accounted through faith in God accompanied by our actions.

James 2:22-24

You see that faith was active along with his works, and faith was completed by his works; and the Scripture was fulfilled that says, "Abraham believed God, and it was counted to him as righteousness"—and he was called a friend of God. ESV

Faith with action has been the requirement for walking with YHWH from the beginning.

God accepted a “mixed multitude” that was not of the descendants of Israel who came out of Egypt because they believed God.

Ex 12:37-38  Then the children of Israel journeyed from Rameses to Succoth, about six hundred thousand
men on foot, besides children. A mixed multitude went up with them also, and flocks and
herds — a great deal of livestock. NKJV

God’s provision for deliverance has always been extended to anyone willing to believe and take actions toward that goal. But the original covenant promises are rooted in the promises of Abraham. Abraham’s right standing with YHWH was founded on his belief and the resulting actions of his belief. At
the first Passover, Israel experienced deliverance out of the power of Egypt because they believed God and responded to His covenant welcome (blood on the lintels of their homes). Similarly, our deliverance from the power of sin is based on our belief in Messiah Jesus and our response to Him.

Rom 10:10 For with the heart one believes and is justified, and with the mouth one confesses and is
saved. ESV

Yet, God did not reject his people and the Gentiles have not replaced Israel. The branches that were cut off are the people that lost their simple trust in YHWH. Without faith it is impossible to please God.

But “do not be arrogant toward the branches” He is able to graft them back in (Romans 11:17-24).

1 Cor 10:12 Therefore let anyone who thinks that he stands take heed lest he fall. ESV

The branches of the Gentile ministries are grafted to the root promises given to Abraham and the patriarchs, this is the “stump of Jesse” (Isaiah 11) and we are grafted as wild shoots (shoots that have not been directly given the covenant promises) to the one true Branch (Messiah) who shall bear fruit. The “grafting” is done by believing. The “cutting off” is done by not believing or by arrogance that assumes we can rely on anything outside of our simple faith and the action it inspires.

Isa 11:1-9

1 There shall come forth a shoot from the stump of Jesse, and a branch from his roots shall
bear fruit.

2 And the Spirit of the Lord shall rest upon him, the Spirit of wisdom and understanding, the Spirit of counsel and might, the Spirit of knowledge and the fear of the Lord.

3 And his delight shall be in the fear of the Lord. He shall not judge by what his eyes see, or decide disputes by what his ears hear,

4 but with righteousness he shall judge the poor, and decide with equity for the meek of the earth; and he shall strike the earth with the rod of his mouth,

and with the breath of his lips he shall kill the wicked.

5 Righteousness shall be the belt of his waist, and faithfulness the belt of his loins.

6 The wolf shall dwell with the lamb, and the leopard shall lie down with the young goat, and the calf and the lion and the fattened calf together;

and a little child shall lead them.

7 The cow and the bear shall graze; their young shall lie down together; and the lion shall eat straw like the ox.

8 The nursing child shall play over the hole of the cobra, and the weaned child shall put his hand on the adder's den.

9 They shall not hurt or destroy in all my holy mountain; for the earth shall be full of the knowledge of the Lord as the waters cover the sea  ESV