As God says in Hosea: “Those who are not my people I will call my people. Those who are not loved I will call my loved ones. Wherever they were told, ‘You are not my people,’ they will be called children of the living God.”
Isaiah also says about Israel: “Although the descendants of Israel are as numerous as the grains of sand on the seashore, only a few will be saved. The Lord will carry out his sentence on the land, completely and decisively.”
This is what Isaiah predicted: “If the Lord of Armies hadn’t left us some descendants, we would have been like Sodom and Gomorrah.” So what can we say?
We can say that non-Jewish people who were not trying to gain God’s approval won his approval, an approval based on faith. The people of Israel tried to gain God’s approval by obeying the laws in Moses’ Teachings, but they did not reach their goal. Why? They didn’t rely on faith to gain God’s approval, but they relied on their own efforts. They stumbled over the rock that trips people.
As Scripture says, “I am placing a rock in Zion that people trip over, a large rock that people find offensive. Whoever believes in him will not be ashamed.” (Romans 9:25-33 (GW)
Belief in God is a hurdle for many people. One they can't get over because it involves faith. How do you trust in a God who can't be seen, or touched, or heard? But God's inherent, yet invisible qualities are not the real problem. It's pride.
The people of Israel waited century after century for a promised Messiah. When He came—divine and human in nature—they would not accept Him. Why? Pride. They could not accept the humble Jesus as their Messiah. They rejected Him because He did not fit their expectations.
God's plan was not to choose one nation of people to be exclusive and superior to all other nations, but for them to be a light—a reflection of His glory to other nations. When God's chosen people rejected God's Son—the Messiah—God made Himself known to other people. People who would believe in Him.
Approval and acceptance by God is only gained by faith. It requires enough humility to see God's humble extension of love through sending His Son Jesus. Then He accepts us as His children, His people. A people unashamed of the Rock that causes the proud to stumble, and who reflect God's light to others. ©Word-Strong_2016