One of these days I may get through Romans 11 and 12.  I guess for now I am stuck there until God says, “When you learn to stop giving Me advice, you may move on!”

Back into Romans chapter 11 now:

It seems that God’s mercy is for everyone.  Our Father God’s secretive plan is now revealed to Paul.  Clearly, God’s chosen people, the Hebrews, will be reinstated into spiritual fellowship with Himself via a circuitous route.  Since Jesus has been rejected by many of the Jews, God extends His mercy to include the Gentiles.  Oh my!  Such a thing must have been unthinkable back then!

³⁰Once, you Gentiles were rebels against God, but when the people of Israel rebelled against Him, God was merciful to you instead. ~ Romans 11:30

But don’t think proudly that Gentiles are greater than Hebrews; for the mystery Paul talks about in verses 25-26 is that the Israelites will again turn to their Almighty God for salvation in Jesus once the full number of Gentiles comes to Christ.

³¹Now they (Hebrews) are the rebels, and God’s mercy has come to you (Gentiles) so that they, too, will share in God’s mercy. ³²For God has imprisoned everyone in disobedience so He could have mercy on everyone.      ~ Romans 11:31-32

Why was this kept a secret by God throughout the centuries?  The answer could be as simple as God not allowing Satan in on the secret – loose lips and all that.

³³Oh, how great are God’s riches and wisdom and knowledge! How impossible it is for us to understand His decisions and His ways! ³⁴ For who can know the Lord’s thoughts? Who knows enough to give Him advice? ³⁵ And who has given Him so much that He needs to pay it back? ~Romans 11:33-35

Thank you, Lord, for including me in that number of fullness.  I am convinced that it is the most merciful, sacred, and secret number.  Even your prophets were never told.

May that number be so large that Heaven has to be enlarged to hold us.

Father, may it be as Your will dictates.

³⁶For everything comes from Him and exists by His power and is intended for His glory. All glory to Him forever! Amen ~Romans 11:33-36