Lesson 21: Israel’s Unbelief – 9:30-10:4
 30 What shall we say, then? That Gentiles who did not pursue righteousness have attained it, that is, a righteousness that is by faith;
31 but that Israel who pursued a law that would lead to righteousness did not succeed in reaching that law.
32 Why? Because they did not pursue it by faith, but as if it were based on works. They have stumbled over the stumbling stone,
33 as it is written, “Behold, I am laying in Zion a stone of stumbling, and a rock of offense; and whoever believes in Him will not be put to shame.”
10:1 Brothers, my heart’s desire and prayer to God for them is that they may be saved.
2 For I bear them witness that they have a zeal for God, but not according to knowledge.
3 For, being ignorant of the righteousness of God, and seeking to establish their own, they did not submit to God’s righteousness.
4 For Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to everyone who believes.

In our world today we see much hatred toward the people of Israel, or the Jews (as many call them today). It is with great sadness I say: this is happening even among people who call themselves Christians. Such hatred is evil. It is based on a lie from the very heart of hell, from the evil one who hates God and everyone who belongs to God.

Just as we do sometimes, Israel as a nation chose to disobey God (as we read about choices in our last lesson). And we who follow Jesus today need to look carefully at Israel to see how God deals with His people when they disobey. In our verses today we see several results:

* God gives His blessings to others rather than to His children who choose to disobey (verses 30-31)
* He allows His children to stumble and fall (verse 32)
* He allows His children to be put to shame (verse 33)
* He allows His children to become fools (verse 33 and Romans 1:22)


We as believers in and followers of Jesus must learn from the mistakes the people of Israel have made – we are just as much a chosen people as they are (see 1 Peter 2:9-10). Rather than hating them, however, we should pray for them during these days when the whole world is turning against them and seeking their destruction – pray God’s protection and blessing for them, and most of all that they will recognize Jesus as their Messiah. We must remember we can fall to temptation just as easily as they have and therefore we must be gentle and kind with them (Galatians 6:1). It is just as easy for us to want our own way (Verse 3).

Again, in Verse 4 we read that following the Law which was given to Israel through Moses, is not the way to righteousness. We will read more about Christ being the end of the Law in our next lesson.

*Do you know anyone who is of Israelite/Jewish heritage? How are you their friend?