Romans 11:22-23

Starting in verse 11, Paul is talking to the Gentiles. That basically means anyone NOT of Israel descent. Paul said that God had to “cut off” some branches of Abraham’s family tree. The Gentiles were then grafted in from a wild olive tree. So now they (aka WE) receive the blessing God has promised to Abraham & his children. (Verse 17) In verse 19, Paul warns us to not get prideful that God now excludes some of them and includes us.

Let’s explore what grafted means in our Scripture. Grafted means, “a bud, shoot, or scion of a plant inserted in a groove, slit, or the like in a stem or stock of another plant inserted which it continues to grow.” In other words, God has added us to an opening so that we can grow Spiritually in His family tree.

While our verses sound somewhat harsh, let’s think of it this way. While living for God, we are under His protective umbrella. When we decide to do our own thing, we step out from under said umbrella. Then the consequences are on us. Ya know? Once someone comes back, they are covered again or “grafted back” as the Scripture reads.

God wants a relationship with everyone. He wants us to stay grafted in & under His protective umbrella. And we do, as long as we trust Him.