‘For God has committed them all to disobedience, that He might have mercy on all.’

Romans 11:32

In Romans 11:32, the apostle Paul is emphasizing the sovereignty of God in His dealings with His chosen people, the nation of Israel. Paul is addressing the Gentile believers in Rome and is highlighting the fact that God has chosen to commit all of Israel to disobedience, not all men. This is a significant point in the book of Romans, (in all of Scripture) as Paul is laying out the theological foundations of the mystery or the secret of the gospel of the grace of God and the role of both Jew and Gentile in God’s plan of salvation.

It’s also crucial to understand the time element. Paul wrote the book of Romans around 57-58 AD. Prior to Paul writing Romans God never revealed these truths.

This was a Secret Hid in the Mind of God

In the context of Romans 11, Paul is discussing the blinding of Israel and the inclusion of Gentiles in God’s plan of salvation. He states in verse 11:25 “I do not want you to be ignorant of this mystery, brothers, so that you may not be conceited: Israel has experienced a blindness in part until the full number of the Gentiles has come in.” This passage explicitly shows that God has temporarily set aside the nation of Israel in order to bring salvation to the Gentiles. With a new gospel message based on faith alone apart from law and works.

Furthermore, in Romans 11:15 Paul states “For if their rejection is the reconciliation of the world, what will their (Israel’s) acceptance be but life from the dead?” This verse highlights the fact that through the rejection of God’s chosen people, the Jews, God is able to bring salvation to all mankind. But God hasn’t forgotten The promises He made to Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, and David.

Has God Cast Away His People?

When you think about Israel’s restoration, think of Ezekiel 37. The “Dry Bones” chapter. In verse 7, God told Ezekiel, “Prophecy on those bones,” and they began to tremble, rattle, and roll. All of that was an image of the Nation of Israel, who had been out of the land of promise, away from their temple worship, away from God, and blinded, but God would restore them back to life. For the past 70 years, we’ve been witnessing the fulfillment of Ezekiel 37, culminating in the Lord’s second coming.

Thus, Israel has been shaking and emerging from every nation under heaven. As predicted in Ezekiel 37:6, they have muscle and skin, but no spiritual life. They remain spiritually dead. In Romans 11, Paul uses the same example as Ezekiel in Chapter 37. That this is the entire nation of Israel returning to their country, resurrecting, and awaiting the Second Coming.

Takeaways

In summary, Romans 11:32 is a key verse in the book of Romans (and all of Scripture) that emphasizes the sovereignty and faithfulness of God in His dealings with Israel. Paul reveals God’s temporary blinding of His chosen people so that He can pour out His mercy (in the form of the gospel of grace) on all mankind, which was a secret hidden in the mind of God.