PAUL’S ANGUISH & THE HEART OF GOD • PART II
THE GENTILES AND THE SALVATION OF ISRAEL
In Romans 10, Paul unfolds God’s mysterious plan: the salvation of the Gentiles is not an end in itself, but a vital step in bringing Israel to salvation. From this chapter, we understand Israel’s greatest need—salvation.
Brothers, my heart’s desire and prayer to God for them is that they may be saved.[1]
Paul emphasizes that salvation is wholly and exclusively the work of God’s grace—so astonishing and undeserved—freely extended to all who believe. This grace has now reached beyond Israel to the nations:
For the Scripture says, “Everyone who believes in him will not be put to shame.” For there is no distinction between Jew and Greek; for the same Lord is Lord of all, bestowing his riches on all who call on him. For “everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.”[2]
Here, Paul echoes the words of the prophet Joel:
And it shall come to pass that everyone who calls on the name of the LORD shall be saved. For in Mount Zion and in Jerusalem there shall be those who escape, as the LORD has said, and among the survivors shall be those whom the LORD calls.[3]
Joel spoke of Israel’s salvation on the “great and terrible day of the LORD.” Paul does not reinterpret this prophecy but widens and expands its scope: salvation remains Israel’s destiny, yet its blessings are now also offered to all who call on the name of the Lord—even Gentiles.
THE GOOD NEWS TO THE NATIONS
In verse 15, Paul quotes Isaiah, reminding us that the good news must be preached. In a very Jewish and apostolic fashion, Paul is doing a midrash—quoting one verse to evoke the whole context of the passage. Here Paul affirms that the proclamation of the gospel is to all the nations, but its ultimate fulfillment will come when Israel hears and believes.
And how are they to preach unless they are sent? As it is written, “How beautiful are the feet of those who preach the good news!”[4]
How beautiful upon the mountains are the feet of him who brings good news, who publishes peace, who brings good news of happiness, who publishes salvation, who says to Zion, “Your God reigns.”[5]
Because Israel was scattered among the nations, the task of proclaiming the gospel has largely fallen to the Gentile church. In this sense, the evangelization of the nations is inseparable from the salvation of Israel.
Yet history shows a tragedy: instead of faithfully proclaiming salvation to the Jewish people, the church often persecuted them leaving behind a legacy of antisemitism, one of the darkest stains in Christian history. Still, God’s purpose stands. Through the gospel among the nations, Israel will one day be provoked to jealousy and return to the Lord.
But I ask, did Israel not understand? First Moses says,
“I will make you jealous of those who are not a nation; with a foolish nation I will make you angry.”
Then Isaiah is so bold as to say,
“I have been found by those who did not seek me; I have shown myself to those who did not ask for me.”
But of Israel he says, “All day long I have held out my hands to a disobedient and contrary people.”[6]
JEALOUSY AND MERCY
Paul explains this mystery by recalling Moses’ prophecy, Before his death, Moses foresaw Israel’s future idolatry and rebellion. In response, God declared that He would provoke Israel to jealousy by turning to those who were “not a nation.”
And he said, “I will hide my face from them; I will see what their end will be, for they are a perverse generation, children in whom is no faithfulness. They have made me jealous with what is no god; they have provoked me to anger with their idols. So I will make them jealous with those who are no people; I will provoke them to anger with a foolish nation.”[7]
Paul understood this prophecy as a foretelling of the gospel reaching the Gentiles. Israel’s rebellion brought God’s judgment, but His response also revealed His relentless mercy: He chose to reveal Himself to the nations. What astounding grace!
This does not mean that God has abandoned Israel. On the contrary, His covenant remains unbroken. Rather, He has widened its embrace to include all nations. The Gentiles are not called to replace Israel, nor are Jews called to merge into the church; rather, all nations are invited to join themselves to God through His everlasting covenant with Israel. As Paul later explains in Romans 11, Gentile believers are like wild olive branches grafted into the tree, while Israel—the natural branches—must one day be grafted back into their own tree.
THE MYSTERY OF GOD’S PLAN
Paul then cites Isaiah to show how God reveals Himself even to those who never sought Him:
Then Isaiah is so bold as to say, “I have been found by those who did not seek me; I have shown myself to those who did not ask for me.” But of Israel he says, “All day long I have held out my hands to a disobedient and contrary people.”[8]
I was ready to be sought by those who did not ask for me; I was ready to be found by those who did not seek me. I said, “Here I am, here I am,” to a nation that was not called by my name. I spread out my hands all the day to a rebellious people, who walk in a way that is not good, following their own devices.[9]
Isaiah’s closing chapters depict the Messiah as a new and greater Moses—coming to judge the nations and redeem His people. The prophet envisions the Lord’s dramatic return: marching through the wilderness, passing Edom and Bozrah, and finally arriving in Jerusalem. Staggered by this vision, Isaiah cries out for God to rend the heavens, bring judgment, and rescue His people. But God’s answer is unexpected: He will reveal Himself to the Gentiles.
Paul interprets this as proof that Israel’s rejection opened the door to the nations. And through the witness of the nations, God will again stretch out His hands to Israel. The Gentile church, therefore, carries the sacred calling of demonstrating God’s mercy to the Jewish people—even to those who remain resistant and rebellious.
The prophets foresaw both Israel’s stumbling and the salvation of the Gentiles, culminating in Israel’s restoration. Paul grasped this divine mystery: Jesus will not return until a remnant from every nation is gathered in, and this ingathering of the nations will lead to the salvation of all Israel.
Thus, our generation must recover the apostolic vision: salvation for Jews and Gentiles alike, united in a fervent longing for the return of the King. The salvation extended to the nations does not annul God’s promises to Israel. Instead, it magnifies the breathtaking way in which He will fulfill them. God’s covenant with Israel and His call to the nations are bound together; one cannot be fulfilled without the other.
It is a covenant—a covenant first given for Israel’s restoration. God humbles every nation by calling them to submit to the God of Israel and His Messiah, and He humbles Israel by bringing them back through the testimony of the Gentiles.
Therefore, the mission before us is clear: disciple the nations so that the Gentile church may stir Israel to jealousy. When that happens, the Messianic age will dawn, and creation itself will be restored to the beauty of Eden.
DISCUSSION QUESTIONS
What role do the Gentiles play in Israel’s salvation according to Romans 10?
Why does Paul emphasize Israel’s jealousy as part of God’s plan?
How has the church historically failed in its calling toward the Jewish people?
How can the church today both disciple the nations and bless Israel?
Paulo Maranatha serves as a pioneer in the Muslim world with his wife and children.