Rashi comments: “ va yered yehudah” Yehudah went down – his
descent was figurtative in the sense that his brothers deposed him from his
position of leadership. This narrative interrupts the story of Yosef to teach
how Yehudah’s brothers lowered him in esteem because of the incident with
Yosef, for when they saw their father’s intense grief, they blamed Yehudah for
it. “You told us to sell him,” they charged. “Had you advised us to send us to
send him back to Father, we would have listened!” As a result of their
disenchantment with him, Yehudah moved away from the family and settled in Adullam,
where he became the business partner of Chirah.”
Adullam means “justice
for the people,” the sages tell us that because of Yehudah’s culpability for
Yakov’s suffering, he was repaid by losing his two oldest sons, so he would
experience the same grief as his father – Sforno.
It is rather ironic
that the same words “identify if you please” used by Yehudah to ask his father
to identify Yosef’s garment(37:32) are the same words Tamar uses when revealing
Yehudah’s infidelity with her – see vs 38:25 – “haker na” –
As the old adage goes
“what goes around comes around” or as the second writings succinctly states -
Gal 6:7 Do not be led astray: Elohim is
not mocked, for whatever a man sows, that he shall also reap.
“Chirah” refers to a
noble family – Strongs 2437. However the Hebrew root of this word – charar - is
to “shame or to wax pale” Strongs 2357
This sounds like
Yehudah was so down because of what happened that he simply decided to
assimilate.
Assimilations is the
struggle of Yehudah and all those grafted into the same family tree today. We
are so pressured by the world and by the spirt of this world to conform to the
pattern of this world.
Instead of taking a
stand we succumb to the pressure. This is the curse of the “galut”
See commentary Stones
Chumash page 208 vs 2&6-10.
Rom 12:2 And do not be conformed to this world, but be
transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you prove what is that good
and well-pleasing and perfect desire of Elohim.
Gen 38:2 And
Yehuḏah saw there a
daughter of a certain Kenaʽanite whose name was
Shuwa. And he took her and went in to her.
Kenanite – is never referred
to as a merchant in the Torah. The Torah describes Kenanites as the descendants
of Cham, only later did the word Canaanite, acquire the additional meaning of trade or
merchant (Zephaniah 1:11, Ezekiel 16:29)
This
proves that the rabbi’s are wrong when they say that Jewishness comes from the
mother and not the father. Praise YHVH
in the case of Yehudah it is correct to assume that Jewishness is determined by
the father and not the mother. If the rabbi’s are right, the Jewish nation are
descendants of Cham and the Kenanites. This is impossible because Messiah came
from the tribe of Yehudah.
Shuah – can
also mean a cry of help because of desperation.
The Hebrew word “galut” applies to those who live
outside the land. The Hebrew word “gala” which means to go into exile can also
mean to be naked or uncovered – and thus to be ashamed and vulnerable.
Gen 38:3 So
she conceived and bore a son, and he called his name Ěr. (Heb – awake)
Gen 38:4 And
she conceived again and bore a son, and she called his name Onan. (Heb –
strong)
Gen 38:5 And
she conceived yet again and bore a son, and called his name Shĕlah.(Heb –
petition) And he was at Keziḇ (Heb – false)
when she bore him.
Gen 38:6 And
Yehuḏah took a wife for Ěr
his first-born, and her name was Tamar. (Heb – palm tree)
Gen 38:7 But
Ěr, Yehuḏah’s first-born, was
evil in the eyes of יהוה, and יהוה took his life.
Gen 8:8 And Yehuḏah
said to Onan, “Go in to your brother’s
wife and
marry her, and raise up an heir to your brother.”
Gen 38:9 And Onan
knew that the offspring would not be his. And it came to be, when he went in to
his brother’s wife, that he spilled on the ground, lest he should give an
offspring to his brother.
Gen 38:10 But what
he did displeased יהוה, so He took
his life too. (He did not perform the duty of the Levirate marriage. Deutr 25:5)
Gen 38:11 Then
Yehuḏah said to Tamar his daughter-in-law,
“Remain a
widow in your father’s house until my son Shĕlah is grown.” For he said, “Lest he also
die as his brothers did.” And Tamar went and dwelt in her father’s house.
Gen 38:12 And
after a long time the daughter of Shuwa, Yehuḏah’s
wife, died. And Yehuḏah was comforted, and went up to his sheep-shearers at
Timnah, he and his friend Ḥirah the Aḏullamite.
Gen 38:13 And it
was reported to Tamar, saying, “See, your father-in-law is going up to Timnah
to shear his sheep.”
Gen 38:14 And she
took off her widow’s garments, and covered herself with a veil and wrapped
herself, and sat at the entrance to Ěnayim which was on the way to Timnah. For
she saw that Shĕlah was grown, and she was not given to him as a wife. (He too did not perform the duty of the
Leverage marriage.)
Gen 38:15 And
Yehuḏah saw her, and reckoned her for a whore, for she had
covered her face.
Gen 38:16 And he
turned aside to her by the way, and said, “Please let me come in to you,” for
he did not know that she was his daughter-in-law. And she said, “What do you
give me to come in to me?”
Gen 38:17 And he
said, “Let me send you a young goat from the flock.” And she said, “Do you give
me a pledge until you send it?”
Gen 38:18 So he
said, “What pledge should I give you?” And she said, “Your seal and your cord
and your staff that is in your hand.” And he gave them to her, and went in to
her, and she conceived by him.
Gen 38:19 And she
arose and went away, and removed her veil and put on the garments of her widowhood.
Gen 38:20 And
Yehuḏah sent the young goat by the hand of his friend the Aḏullamite,
to receive his pledge from the woman’s hand, but he did not find her.
Gen 38:21 And he
asked the men of that place, saying, “Where is the cult prostitute who was
beside the way to Ěnayim?” And they said, “There was no cult prostitute in this
place.”
Gen 38:22 And he
returned to Yehuḏah and said, “I have not found her. And the men of the
place also said there was no cult prostitute in this place.”
Gen 38:23 And
Yehuḏah said, “Let her take them for herself, lest we become
despised, for I sent this young goat and you have not found her.”
Gen 38:24 And it
came to be, about three months after, that Yehuḏah was
informed, saying, “Tamar your daughter-in-law has whored, and see, she has
conceived by whoring.” And Yehuḏah said, “Bring her out and let her be burned!”
Gen 38:25 When she
was brought out, she sent to her father-in-law, saying, “By the man to whom
these belong, I am pregnant.” And she said, “Please examine whose these are:
the seal and the cord and the staff.”
Gen 38:26 And
Yehuḏah examined and said, “She has been more righteous than
I, because I did not give her to Shĕlah my son.” And he never knew her again.
Gen 38:27 And it
came to be, at the time for giving birth, that see, twins were in her womb.
Gen 38:28 And it
came to be, when she was giving birth, that the one put out his hand. And the
midwife took a scarlet thread and bound it on his hand, saying, “This one came
out first.”
Gen 38:29 And it came to
be, as he drew back his hand, that see, his brother came out! And she said,
“How did you break through? This breach be upon you!” So his name was called
Perets.
Gen 38:30 And
afterward his brother came out who had the scarlet thread on his hand. So his
name was called Zeraḥ.
Yehudah must be lifted up again. Yehudah must lead the
flock of Yakov to come together in unity – to prepare the way of Moshiach.
Yehudah will play a decisive role in the last days.
Rom 11:8 As it has been written, “יהוה has given them
a spirit of deep sleep, eyes not to see and ears not to hear, unto this day.”
Rom 11:9 Dawiḏ also
says, “Let their table become for a snare, and for a trap, and for a
stumbling-block and a recompense to them,
Rom 11:10 let their
eyes be darkened, not to see, and bow down their back always.”
Rom 11:11 I say
then, have they stumbled that they should fall? Let it not be! But by their
fall deliverance has come to the gentiles, to provoke them to jealousy.
Rom 11:12 And if
their fall is riches for the world, and their failure riches for the gentiles,
how much more their completeness!
Rom 11:13 For I
speak to you, the gentiles, inasmuch as I am an emissary to the gentiles, I
esteem my service,
Rom 11:14 if
somehow I might provoke to jealousy those who are my flesh and save some
of them.
Rom 11:15 For if
their casting away is the restoration to favour of the world, what is their
acceptance but life from the dead?
Rom 11:16 Now if
the first-fruit is set-apart, the lump is also. And if the root is set-apart,
so are the branches.
Rom 11:17 And if
some of the branches were broken off, and you, being a wild olive tree, have
been grafted in among them, and came to share the root and fatness of the olive
tree,
Rom 11:18 do not
boast against the branches. And if you boast, remember: you do not bear
the root, but the root bears you!
Rom 11:19 You
shall say then, “The branches were broken off that I might be grafted in.”
Rom 11:20 Good! By
unbelief they were broken off, and you stand by belief. Do not be arrogant, but
fear.
Rom 11:21 For if
Elohim did not spare the natural branches, He might not spare you either.
Rom 11:22 See then
the kindness and sharpness of Elohim: on those who fell sharpness, but toward
you kindness, if you continue in His kindness, otherwise you also shall
be cut off.
Rom 11:23 And they
also, if they do not continue in unbelief, shall be grafted in, for Elohim is
able to graft them in again.
Rom 11:24 For if
you were cut out of the olive tree which is wild by nature, and were grafted
contrary to nature into a good olive tree, how much more shall these who are
the natural branches, be grafted into their own olive tree?
Rom 11:25 For I do
not wish you to be ignorant of this secret, brothers, lest you should be wise
in your own estimation, that hardening in part has come over Yisra’ĕl, until
the completeness of the gentiles1 has come in. Footnote: 1Gen.
48:19.
Rom 11:26 And so
all Yisra’ĕl shall be saved, as it has been written, “The Deliverer shall come
out of Tsiyon, and He shall turn away wickedness from Yaʽaqoḇ,
Rom 11:27 and this
is My covenant with them, when I take away their sins.”1 Footnote: 1Isa.
59:20-21.
Rom 11:28 Truly,
as regards the Good News they are enemies for your sake, but concerning
the choice they are beloved for the sake of the fathers.
Rom 11:29 For the
gifts and the calling of Elohim are not to be repented of.
Rom 11:30 For as
you also at one time disobeyed Elohim, but now have obtained compassion through
their disobedience,
Rom 11:31 so also
these have now disobeyed, that through the compassion shown you they also might
obtain compassion.
Rom 11:32 For
Elohim has shut them all up to disobedience, in order to have compassion on
all.
Rom 11:33 Oh, the
depth of riches, and wisdom and knowledge of Elohim! How unsearchable His
judgments and untraceable His ways!
Rom 11:34 “For who
has known the mind of יהוה? Or who has
become His counsellor?”
Rom 11:35 “Or who
first gave to Him, and it shall be given back to him?”
Rom 11:36 Because
of Him, and through Him, and to Him, are all, to whom be esteem forever. Amĕn.
Isa 37:31 “And the remnant who have escaped of the
house of Yehuḏah shall again take
root downward, and bear fruit upward. (perfect balance between the physical and
spiritual)
Isa 37:32
“For out of Yerushalayim comes forth a remnant, and those who escape
from Mount Tsiyon – the ardour of יהוה of hosts does
this.
The only difference between the name of YHVH and Yehudah
is that Yehudah has a “daleth”– daleth is a symbol of a door. Yehudah was
destined to be a doorway for the remnant.
Yud Hey Vay Hey = YHVH. Yud hey vav DALETH hey = Yehudah.
Jer 36:3 “It could be that the house of Yehuḏah hears of all the
evil which I plan to bring upon them, so that each one turns back from his evil
way, and I shall pardon their crookedness and their sin.”
The key is possibly Yosef – he was the one who united the
brothers again.
The
Mystery Revealed
A mystery in Scripture is a concealed truth. In the context of Romans chapter 11, Paul is explaining a mystery, not creating one. So our understanding of this mystery has to agree with the context of the rest of Paul’s letter to the Romans. Continuing in verse 25 Paul states exactly what the mystery of Israel is all about: that blindness in part (a partial hardening) is happened to Israel until the fullness of the Gentiles has come in. The hardening of Israel is partial. Some, not all, of Israel is hardened (11:7), blind (v. 8,10), and broken off from service. The ‘blindness’ also is not only partial, but temporary as well - until. There has always been a remnant according to grace, called the Israel of Elohim (Galatians 6:16), even to this present time (Romans 11:2-5), proving that Elohim has not forsaken a people that He foreknew (11:1,2). Thus there will come a time when, not only will there be a remnant, but all Israel will come to faith in Messiah. Paul especially wanted Gentile believers (v. 13) to understand the matter for this reason: spiritual fulfillment for Gentiles is tied to the spiritual fulfillment for Israel (11:12,15).
Is 'The Church' Israel?
So, just what does fullness of the Gentiles mean? There are three prominent views to be considered. First, some say that the ‘Church’ is Israel; thus the fullness of the Gentiles refers to the glory of the ‘’Church’’. The idea that the ‘’Church’’ replaces Israel is sometimes called ‘replacement theology.’ This view of the glory of the Church is incorrect for several reasons.
First, not only is this view grammatically impossible, it is contextually impossible. All the way through Romans 11, “Israel” is referred to as the Jewish people, and distinct from the Gentile believers (vv. 2, 7, 25, 26) who are grafted in as wild olive branches or who are gentile believers who sees themselves as separate from Israel. Also, it is redemptively impossible. In 11:25, it says blindness in part has happened to Israel, but of the “Ekklessia” (called out ones) Paul says that the eyes of our understanding have been enlightened as to who Messiah is (Ephesians 1:18). Thus the Ekklessia/Kehelah as Israel being blind simply makes no sense. Plus, in Romans 11:26 a ‘saved Israel’ is equated with a ‘delivered Jacob’: …The Deliverer will come from Zion, He will remove ungodliness from Jacob. (Insert not part of quote: The Ekklessia (Greek or Kehilla-Hebrew meaning Called out ones or Assembly), is made up of those already redeemed, both Jews and Gentiles who sees themselves as part of Israel, not a separate entity called “the Church”’. Here in Rom 11, blinded Israel is spoken of as one that is not yet redeemed (the ones who are still broken off from their tree), but will be redeemed. (Romans 11:17- 21 "If some of the branches [unbelieving Jews by blood] have been broken off, and you, though a wild olive shoot [believing Gentiles], have been grafted in among the others and now share in the nourishing sap from the olive root, 18 do not boast over those branches. If you do, consider this: You do not support the root, but the root supports you. 19 You will say then, ‘Branches were broken off so that I could be grafted in.’ 20 Granted. But they were broken off because of unbelief, and you stand by faith. Do not be arrogant, but be afraid. 21 For if Elohim did not spare the natural branches, he will not spare you either." So we see that the ‘’church’’ did not replace Israel. The ‘’church’’ believe that the Torah has been done away with with the death of Messiah and became so to speak a “New tree” whereas in Rom 11 we can see that x-Gentile believers don’t replace Israel but become one in the ‘’Olive tree of Isreal’’ with the believing Jews. The nourishing sap of the ‘’Olive Tree’’ is Hebrew – a Torah obedient “sap”. No, the X-gentiles who became believers in Yahshua are grafted into the tree of Israel as wild olive branches together with the believing Jews who are already grafted back into their tree. End of insert.) Finally, the view of the glory of the Church is thematically impossible. The whole theme and purpose of Romans 9-11 is to show YHVH’s faithfulness to the Jewish people, who are Israel (see Romans 9:3,4) it simply does not speak of Israel being replaced by, or identified as the ‘’Church’’. (Insert: At the same time the theme of Rom 11 also speaks of a remnant of natural born Jews (Yuhadim) who are grafted back into their ‘’olive tree’’ because of Yahshua and the x gentile believers who are the ‘’wild olive branches grafted into the ‘’Olive tree of Israel’’’’ through Yahshua to become ‘part of the citizenship of Yisrel’ (not to become a non Torah observant ‘’church’’ that replaces Israel ). This is confirmed in: Eph 2:12 ‘’at that time you were without Messiah, excluded from the citizenship of Yisra’ĕl and strangers from the covenants of promise, having no expectation and without Elohim in the world. Eph 2:13 But now in Messiah יהושע you who once were far off have been brought near by the blood of the Messiah. Eph 2:14 For He is our peace, who has made both one, and having broken down the partition of the barrier, Eph 2:15 having abolished in His flesh the enmity – the Torah of the commands in dogma – so as to create in Himself one renewed man from the two, thus making peace, Eph 2:16 and to completely restore to favour both of them unto Elohim in one body through the stake, having destroyed the enmity by it.’’ So the real ‘’Kehilla’’ (Called out ones/Assembly – not ‘’church’’) is a called out people Jew and X-Gentiles who are ‘’grafted into’’ the same tree, but the ‘’tree’’ called the ‘’Olive Tree” in Rom 11, is an ‘’ISRAEL tree’’ (some of the natural branches of Israel are still blinded and cut off from their tree). This Kehilla strife to obey the Father’s Torah which was what Yahshua also taught and lived. It is not a Constantinian Christian Church who is far removed from the Torah thinking that the Messiah came to do away with the Torah and that they are replacing Israel and will become ‘’the glory of the church’’, meaning the ‘’fulness of the gentiles’’. End of insert)
A mystery in Scripture is a concealed truth. In the context of Romans chapter 11, Paul is explaining a mystery, not creating one. So our understanding of this mystery has to agree with the context of the rest of Paul’s letter to the Romans. Continuing in verse 25 Paul states exactly what the mystery of Israel is all about: that blindness in part (a partial hardening) is happened to Israel until the fullness of the Gentiles has come in. The hardening of Israel is partial. Some, not all, of Israel is hardened (11:7), blind (v. 8,10), and broken off from service. The ‘blindness’ also is not only partial, but temporary as well - until. There has always been a remnant according to grace, called the Israel of Elohim (Galatians 6:16), even to this present time (Romans 11:2-5), proving that Elohim has not forsaken a people that He foreknew (11:1,2). Thus there will come a time when, not only will there be a remnant, but all Israel will come to faith in Messiah. Paul especially wanted Gentile believers (v. 13) to understand the matter for this reason: spiritual fulfillment for Gentiles is tied to the spiritual fulfillment for Israel (11:12,15).
Is 'The Church' Israel?
So, just what does fullness of the Gentiles mean? There are three prominent views to be considered. First, some say that the ‘Church’ is Israel; thus the fullness of the Gentiles refers to the glory of the ‘’Church’’. The idea that the ‘’Church’’ replaces Israel is sometimes called ‘replacement theology.’ This view of the glory of the Church is incorrect for several reasons.
First, not only is this view grammatically impossible, it is contextually impossible. All the way through Romans 11, “Israel” is referred to as the Jewish people, and distinct from the Gentile believers (vv. 2, 7, 25, 26) who are grafted in as wild olive branches or who are gentile believers who sees themselves as separate from Israel. Also, it is redemptively impossible. In 11:25, it says blindness in part has happened to Israel, but of the “Ekklessia” (called out ones) Paul says that the eyes of our understanding have been enlightened as to who Messiah is (Ephesians 1:18). Thus the Ekklessia/Kehelah as Israel being blind simply makes no sense. Plus, in Romans 11:26 a ‘saved Israel’ is equated with a ‘delivered Jacob’: …The Deliverer will come from Zion, He will remove ungodliness from Jacob. (Insert not part of quote: The Ekklessia (Greek or Kehilla-Hebrew meaning Called out ones or Assembly), is made up of those already redeemed, both Jews and Gentiles who sees themselves as part of Israel, not a separate entity called “the Church”’. Here in Rom 11, blinded Israel is spoken of as one that is not yet redeemed (the ones who are still broken off from their tree), but will be redeemed. (Romans 11:17- 21 "If some of the branches [unbelieving Jews by blood] have been broken off, and you, though a wild olive shoot [believing Gentiles], have been grafted in among the others and now share in the nourishing sap from the olive root, 18 do not boast over those branches. If you do, consider this: You do not support the root, but the root supports you. 19 You will say then, ‘Branches were broken off so that I could be grafted in.’ 20 Granted. But they were broken off because of unbelief, and you stand by faith. Do not be arrogant, but be afraid. 21 For if Elohim did not spare the natural branches, he will not spare you either." So we see that the ‘’church’’ did not replace Israel. The ‘’church’’ believe that the Torah has been done away with with the death of Messiah and became so to speak a “New tree” whereas in Rom 11 we can see that x-Gentile believers don’t replace Israel but become one in the ‘’Olive tree of Isreal’’ with the believing Jews. The nourishing sap of the ‘’Olive Tree’’ is Hebrew – a Torah obedient “sap”. No, the X-gentiles who became believers in Yahshua are grafted into the tree of Israel as wild olive branches together with the believing Jews who are already grafted back into their tree. End of insert.) Finally, the view of the glory of the Church is thematically impossible. The whole theme and purpose of Romans 9-11 is to show YHVH’s faithfulness to the Jewish people, who are Israel (see Romans 9:3,4) it simply does not speak of Israel being replaced by, or identified as the ‘’Church’’. (Insert: At the same time the theme of Rom 11 also speaks of a remnant of natural born Jews (Yuhadim) who are grafted back into their ‘’olive tree’’ because of Yahshua and the x gentile believers who are the ‘’wild olive branches grafted into the ‘’Olive tree of Israel’’’’ through Yahshua to become ‘part of the citizenship of Yisrel’ (not to become a non Torah observant ‘’church’’ that replaces Israel ). This is confirmed in: Eph 2:12 ‘’at that time you were without Messiah, excluded from the citizenship of Yisra’ĕl and strangers from the covenants of promise, having no expectation and without Elohim in the world. Eph 2:13 But now in Messiah יהושע you who once were far off have been brought near by the blood of the Messiah. Eph 2:14 For He is our peace, who has made both one, and having broken down the partition of the barrier, Eph 2:15 having abolished in His flesh the enmity – the Torah of the commands in dogma – so as to create in Himself one renewed man from the two, thus making peace, Eph 2:16 and to completely restore to favour both of them unto Elohim in one body through the stake, having destroyed the enmity by it.’’ So the real ‘’Kehilla’’ (Called out ones/Assembly – not ‘’church’’) is a called out people Jew and X-Gentiles who are ‘’grafted into’’ the same tree, but the ‘’tree’’ called the ‘’Olive Tree” in Rom 11, is an ‘’ISRAEL tree’’ (some of the natural branches of Israel are still blinded and cut off from their tree). This Kehilla strife to obey the Father’s Torah which was what Yahshua also taught and lived. It is not a Constantinian Christian Church who is far removed from the Torah thinking that the Messiah came to do away with the Torah and that they are replacing Israel and will become ‘’the glory of the church’’, meaning the ‘’fulness of the gentiles’’. End of insert)
It's
The Rapture that is the fullness of the Gentiles, Right?
The second view sees the fullness of the Gentiles referring to the completion of, or Rapture of, the Church. This view maintains that when YHVH fills His quota of Gentiles, and these multitudes are ‘brought in’, or saved, this is the fullness of the Gentiles. In other words, when the last Gentile is saved, then the Rapture takes place (see 1 Thessalonians 4:16 - 5:5), at which point YHVH begins working among the Jews again. One reason this falls short is that it assumes the body of Messiah is made up of Gentiles only. But, the Body of Messiah is made up of Jews and Gentiles, co-equals in Yahshua. And, for all we know, the last person saved before the Rapture might be a Jew!
The second view sees the fullness of the Gentiles referring to the completion of, or Rapture of, the Church. This view maintains that when YHVH fills His quota of Gentiles, and these multitudes are ‘brought in’, or saved, this is the fullness of the Gentiles. In other words, when the last Gentile is saved, then the Rapture takes place (see 1 Thessalonians 4:16 - 5:5), at which point YHVH begins working among the Jews again. One reason this falls short is that it assumes the body of Messiah is made up of Gentiles only. But, the Body of Messiah is made up of Jews and Gentiles, co-equals in Yahshua. And, for all we know, the last person saved before the Rapture might be a Jew!
Fulfilling YHVH's Will
The third view held by a growing number of Messianic and other evangelical believers sees the fullness of the Gentiles as referring to the faithfulness of the Gentile believers. In Romans 11:12 how much more their [Israel’s] fullness? the word fullness has to do with the completion of Israel’s calling, as opposed to their transgression and failure to do YHVH's will (vv. 12,30). Thus the fullness of the Gentiles means Gentile believers will be faithful to fulfill their calling toward Israel: to make Israel jealous.
Faithful Friends
The fullness of the Gentiles leading to “all Israel” being saved begs the question: When will this happen? When the greatest Jew-hater of all time, the Anti-Christ, comes on the scene. He will attempt to destroy all the Jews (Revelation 12) as well as all believers in Yeshua (Revelation 13,17), and attempt to stop the return of Messiah to rescue Israel. According to Matthew 25:31-46, at this future time Gentile believers around the world will care for the Jewish people, the ‘least of His brethren’. When the Gentiles fulfill their calling to the Jewish people their witness will bring about a turning to Yeshua at Israel’s darkest hour. Though presently the majority of Israel is in unbelief, one day all Israel will be saved. Please note that the text does not say that all Israel may be saved, but that all Israel will be saved. They will turn to Messiah and be saved even as the Prophets, along with Paul, predicted (Zechariah 12:10; Isaiah 53; Psalm 118:22, etc.). Israel’s turning to Yeshua brings about His Second Coming from the ‘Heavenly Tzion’ to the earthly Tzion – Yerushalayim/Jerusalem! This idea of the Gentiles ministering to Israel is found throughout the Old Covenant: I will make them jealous with those who are not a people (Deuteronomy 32:21); And many nations will join themselves to YHVH in that day and will become My people. Then I will dwell in your midst, and you will know that YHVH of hosts has sent Me to you (Zechariah 2:11; also Isaiah 49:22; 62:6,7). YHVH has always desired the Gentiles who believed in Him to demonstrate their faith by a love for, and ministry to, the people of Israel.
So What Do I do Now?
That’s why we need to share with Jewish people today, as there is still opportunity for them to be made jealous and believe in Messiah. As followers of Messiah, we can have confidence in YHVH’s promises for the future and for today, and fulfill His calling for our lives. If you are not yet a believer in Yahshua, know that the Elohim who will save all Israel in the future is saving Jewish people today, and He will save you now if you will trust in His Son, Yahshua the Messiah.
For additional insight...
Having a grasp of the words Paul used helps us to better understand this ‘Mystery of Israel’. Some Bible versions (NIV) translate this phrase until the full number of the Gentiles has come in. This is unfortunate, and is more of a paraphrase than a translation.
*** If Paul had meant to say full number he could have used a different Greek word: ‘arithmou’, as in Revelation 7:4, the number of those who were sealed; or ‘telestoi’, “full number of days”, even as his student, Luke, used in Luke 1:43 (NASB).
*** Paul used the word ‘pleroma’, and it is never translated anywhere else as full number, but only as fullness (as 11:12). Paul meant fulfilled as in ‘complete, the state of being full.’ In its verb form pleroma means ‘to be full, or filled up’, thus the fullness of the Gentiles has come inrefers to the yielding of Gentile believers to Elohim’s will. The result of this will be the salvation of Israel. End quote.
The fullness of the Gentiles infers to the yielding of ex Gentiles to be
striving to be completely obedient to the Torah and will of YHVH as revealed to
us through Yahshua and his talmadim (true followers).