Behold the Goodness and Severity of God

Whatever our notions about Jehovah God, balance is required.  With so much hurt all about, speaking of God’s love can be most timely and helpful.  But over-speaking about the love of God to the point of ruling out His judgments, produces a god not in accord with the Scriptures.

Paul said it flatly, “consider the goodness and severity of God” (Romans 11:22).  In context Paul speaks of how the Jews, natural branches of the olive tree, were broken off (from God’s favor) revealing God’s severity and gentiles were “grafted in” revealing the goodness of God.

This was incredible.  Had not the Jews stood before Jehovah God as His “chosen people” for nearly 2,500 years?  To this point the Jews had endured so much, principally because of their hard-heartedness and sin.  Now, like a final insult, as revealed in this portion of Paul’s writing, namely because of their rejection of Yeshua Hamashiah (Jesus, the Messiah), they are broken off as “natural branches” of the olive tree.  God broke them off.  Please understand this is severity of the utmost sort.

On the other hand, goodness toward the gentiles is a fact only so long as they continue in His goodness.  If they don’t, they will be cut off.  Again, severity.

If the Jews repent of their unbelief, Paul says they not only can, but will be grafted back into their own olive tree (Romans 11:24, 25).  This time, goodness.

Whatever one’s position  before God it is held by faith.  There's no room in this position for haughtiness (being chosen of God), but rather a certain fearfulness.  Paul says, “Because of unbelief they were broken off, and you stand by faith.  Do not be haughty, but fear.  For if God did not spare the natural branches, He may not spare you either” (Romans. 11:20, 21).

Balance with reference to God is desperately needed.  Ultimately that balance will restore the Jew and bring the Gentile to a place where both stand pleasing in God’s sight.