Romans 11:16, God’s Does Not Forsake His Own
Romans 11:16 For if the firstfruit be holy, the lump is also holy: and if the root be holy, so are the branches.
The Apostle Paul by two metaphors from baking and planting provides proof that Israel has not been forsaken by God becuase of her godly roots. He expresses it by way of two conditional sentences. Both assume the condition to be a reality and therefore the conclusion follows logically and naturally from the assumption.
The first metaphor is related to the Mosaic ceremonial law, where the “firstfruit or first offering” is a technical term for the first portion of grain and fruit harvests and flocks offered to God [Friberg Lexicon]. The consecration of the first bread made from the harvest is an act of dedicating the enture harvest to Him. This is recorded in Numbers 15:19-21 Then it shall be, that, when ye eat of the bread of the land, ye shall offer up an heave offering unto the LORD. 20 Ye shall offer up a cake of the first of your dough for an heave offering: as ye do the heave offering of the threshingfloor, so shall ye heave it. 21 Of the first of your dough ye shall give unto the LORD an heave offering in your generations (c.f. Leviticus 23:9-14 ).
The second metaphor is related to planting. The root of the tree and its branches are connected together as one being the source of nutrient or life for the other. Therefore, if the root is holy, set apart for God, then the branches likewise is set apart for God! It alludes to God’s unconditional promises made to Israel’s patriachs Abraham, Issac and Jacob stil holds true for their descendants.
Genesis 12:1-3 Now the LORD had said unto Abram, Get thee out of thy country, and from thy kindred, and from thy father’s house, unto a land that I will shew thee: 2 And I will make of thee a great nation, and I will bless thee, and make thy name great; and thou shalt be a blessing: 3 And I will bless them that bless thee, and curse him that curseth thee: and in thee shall all families of the earth be blessed.
The Apostle Paul is reminding his readers that God’s promise of blessing to Israel has not been nullified because she has, nationally, rejected her God. Israel is still that nation that God has consecrated to be a witness for Him. Israel will feature most prominently in the days when our Lord returns. We are seeing the build up to that reality as we read the news concerning Israel. May God open our spiritual eyes to see the fulfilment of His unfailing promise to Israel unfolding according to Scriptures. May our faith be strengthened. God does not forsake His own! Amen.