Reading 16: Plot twists
I’ve always loved plot twists…you know, those moments when you expect a story to go in one direction, and it goes somewhere completely unexpected.
This passage in Romans starts out by talking about who’s “in” and who’s “out,” so to speak, using this analogy of breaking and grafting branches on an olive tree; according to Paul, many of the Israelites have been broken off of this olive tree “because of their unbelief” (v. 20) and the Gentiles to whom Paul is speaking have been grafted onto the tree in their place. It sets itself up to be a sort of “fire and brimstone” story, where the branches that have been broken off are discarded and burned, never to be seen or heard from again.
But then there’s a plot twist in verse 23: “For God has the power to graft them in again.”
And then another plot twist in verse 26: “All Israel will be saved.”
This passage is complicated and dense and there’s a lot to explore here, but if I were to sum up what I think is most important about this passage in a single sentence, I would say this: God is in the business of reconciliation and restoration. Lost sheep are returned to the flock, the sun always rises even after the darkest night, and broken branches are grafted back onto the tree of life to be nourished by the Spirit.
“For the gifts and calling of God are irrevocable,” says Paul in verse 29. And no matter how many times we—the branches—are broken by disillusionment, betrayal, and all of life’s storms, storms which make it hard to believe in anything, the truth remains that there is still room for us all on the olive tree.
That’s one of the best plot twists I’ve ever read.
In verse 26, Paul declares that “all Israel will be saved.” What do you think Paul means by this? To whom exactly is Paul referring when he says “all Israel?”
What message might God be giving you to share with those “broken branches” who need to hear the good news that God is in the business of reconciliation and restoration?
God, as the author of all things, you’ve written some excellent stories, and perhaps one of the greatest plot twists of all time is that you make space for us all on the olive tree. Even as the storms of life bend and break us, you have the power to graft us back in again. We are thankful that you are in the business of reconciliation and restoration. Heal those of us who are broken, and help those of us who are not broken to shine with your light and your love, acting as a beacon of hope for those who need it the most. Amen.
–Michael Jones graduated with Honors from Catawba College this past May and plans to attend seminary or divinity school in January. A native of Salisbury, Michael has attended St. John’s, Salisbury, since the age of three, where they have served as a youth member of the Church Council, a singer at the Nine Twenty Seven Contemporary Service, and a volunteer with Vacation Bible School and the Barnabas Connection.
