“11 I ask, then, have they stumbled so as to fall? Absolutely not! On the contrary, by their transgression, salvation has come to the Gentiles to make Israel jealous.”
Speaking of the Israelite nation, Paul asks, have the Jews stumbled over their self-righteousness so far that they are beyond redemption? Absolutely not!
At least two things can be learned from these verses:
1) God has a purpose for Israel. The disbelief and disobedience of Israel is the means by which the good news of the gospel of faith in Jesus has spread throughout the Gentile nations. Many who are not of God’s chosen nation have been chosen by God to be among His elect, that is, many Gentiles have been saved by grace through faith in Jesus!
“Disagreeing among themselves, they began to leave after Paul made one statement: “The Holy Spirit was right in saying to your ancestors through the prophet Isaiah when he said, Go to these people and say: You will always be listening, but never understanding; and you will always be looking, but never perceiving. For the hearts of these people have grown callous, their ears are hard of hearing, and they have shut their eyes; otherwise they might see with their eyes and hear with their ears, understand with their heart and turn, and I would heal them.” Therefore, let it be known to you that this salvation of God has been sent to the Gentiles; they will listen.” — Acts 28:25-28 (underline added)
2) Romans 11 reveals that God is not finished with Israel. The salvation that has come to the Gentiles by means of Israel’s disbelief is intended to make Israel jealous. Not jealous in a way that Jewish Christians will have any sort of disdain for their Gentile brothers and sisters, but jealous of the blessings and righteousness being poured out among the Gentiles, blessings and righteousness that will be theirs also, if only they would repent and believe. Israel’s rejection of Jesus the Messiah is not final. Although many Jews have not, and will not believe, many more will believe some day.