Well, folks, I’ve been pondering that Romans 9-11 has always been one of those sections of Scripture that can leave people a little uncertain.

All the talk about vessels of wrath, hardening, and “they are not all Israel who are of Israel” can feel heavy.

But when we take the time to look at these chapters in the light of the whole counsel of God, a clear and hopeful picture begins to come into view.

Let me share that picture with you simply and carefully from the Scriptures.

The Northern and Southern Kingdoms

After Solomon’s reign the kingdom of Israel divided. The northern kingdom, made up of most of the tribes, kept the name Israel. The southern kingdom, centred on Judah and Benjamin along with many of the Levites, became known as Judah.

In 722 BC the northern kingdom was conquered by Assyria. Its people were carried away and scattered among the nations. Over the years they largely lost their distinct tribal identity as they mixed with the peoples around them. The southern kingdom lasted longer, although it too went into exile; a remnant returned, and its people came to be called Jews, a name that comes from Judah.

This is important to understand: all Jews are Israelites, but not all Israelites are Jews.

The northern tribes were still part of the people of Israel even after they were scattered.

The prophets never forgot them and kept speaking of their future restoration together with Judah.

You know, sometimes a simple picture helps us understand; let me illustrate.

Long ago there was one united kingdom ~ let’s call it “Britain.” Then it split. The North kept the old name “Britain / Israel” and had most of the tribes. The South was called “England / Judah,” mainly two tribes.

The North was conquered and the people were scattered among the nations. Over time they mixed in and lost their clear identity. The South lasted longer. Many came back from exile, and folks started calling them “the English”, or in Bible language, “the Jews,” from Judah.

So all English people are British, but not all British people are English.

In the same way, all Jews are Israelites, but not all Israelites are Jews. The northern tribes were still part of Israel.

The prophets never forgot them.

Who is Ephraim?

Ephraim was one of Joseph’s sons. When Jacob blessed him in Genesis 48:19, he said that Ephraim’s descendants would become “a multitude of nations.” Later on, the prophets often used the name Ephraim to stand for the whole northern kingdom.

When that kingdom was taken into exile, its people were dispersed and absorbed among the nations, just as Jacob’s blessing had indicated.

When Paul speaks in Romans 11:25 of “the fullness of the Gentiles,” this promise is in the background. God is bringing people from the nations to the Messiah, and through that very thing He is restoring the scattered northern part of Israel.

Romans 9 and the Potter

A common way of reading Romans 9 is to say that God created some people for salvation and others for destruction.

I do not believe that is what the passage is teaching. That understanding has never sat well with the rest of what the Bible reveals about the heart of God.

The key background is found in Jeremiah 18. The Lord told Jeremiah to go down to the potter’s house. The vessel the potter was making was spoiled in his hand, so he simply reworked the clay into another vessel. Then the Lord said:

“O house of Israel, can I not do with you as this potter?” says the Lord. “Look, as the clay is in the potter’s hand, so are you in My hand, O house of Israel.” (Jeremiah 18:6)

God goes on to explain that if a nation turns from its evil, He can relent from the judgment He had announced. If a nation turns to evil, He can withhold the good He had planned.

The clay is not completely passive; the people’s response is taken into account.

Paul uses that same picture in Romans 9 where God has the right to reshape a rebellious portion of Israel for a time, so that the gospel can go out to the nations.

The hardening is real, but it is not the last word.

Romans 11 makes it plain that those who were broken off can be grafted in again if they do not continue in unbelief.

God’s Heart for All People

Two clear passages keep us from drifting into a hard deterministic view:

“For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Savior, who desires all men to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth.” (1 Timothy 2:3–4)

“As I live,” says the Lord God, “I have no pleasure in the death of the wicked, but that the wicked turn from his way and live. Turn, turn from your evil ways! For why should you die, O house of Israel?” (Ezekiel 33:11)

Folks these verses show us the consistent heart of God. He wants people to turn and live.

A Warning About British-Israelism

Some groups have taken the history of the northern tribes and claimed that the British or other European peoples are the true Israel, while putting the Jewish people in a lesser place. That kind of teaching can easily slide into antisemitism, and it is a serious misuse of the Word of God.

The Jewish people today are the real continuation of Judah. Paul still calls them Israelites and tells us that their election has not been revoked (Romans 11:28–29).

The scattering of the northern tribes does not make the Jews impure or illegitimate. Israel has always been larger than Judah alone, and God is restoring the whole.

The Future and the 144,000

We also know that a significant turning of Jewish people to Jesus is still ahead, especially in the time of the Tribulation. Revelation 7 tells us of 144,000 servants of God who are sealed ~ 12,000 from each of the twelve tribes of Israel.

Even though the human tribal records have been lost for centuries, the Lord has never lost track of His people.

His knowledge is perfect. He does not need our paperwork to know who belongs to each tribe.

The Bigger Picture

You must understand that Romans 9–11 is not mainly about God deciding the eternal destiny of individuals before they are born; it is about God’s faithful commitment to His covenant people even after their rebellion.

In His great wisdom He is able to use that very rebellion to open the door of salvation to the nations, and then to bring the nations in as the means of restoring all Israel.

This understanding fits the free offer of the gospel to everyone, the real responsibility of every person to respond, and the sure confidence that God will keep every promise He has made concerning Israel.

The more carefully we study these chapters in their full biblical setting, the clearer and more wonderful the picture becomes.

God is the Master Potter who works with patience, mercy, and profound wisdom.

His desire is that people should turn and live.

May we keep reading the whole of Scripture, become Bible strong ~ from Genesis right through to Revelation, and allow it to shape the way we see both Israel and the nations.

Peter