What About the Majority?
Rev. (Rtd.) Osei Kwabena Nkrahene | Thursday, October 15, 2026 | Romans 11:7–11
KEY VERSE: “So I ask, did they stumble in order that they might fall? By no means! Rather through their trespass salvation has come to the Gentiles, so as to make Israel jealous.” — Romans 11:11 (ESV)
MESSAGE:
One of the sobering dangers of the spiritual life is that a person can remain close to God’s truth and yet become increasingly unresponsive to it. Hearing does not always lead to obedience. Repeated exposure to truth can become familiarity, and familiarity can slowly dull the heart when God’s voice is continually resisted.
Paul now turns from the remnant chosen by grace to the majority of Israel who had not embraced God’s saving work in Christ. Romans 11:7 says, “The elect obtained it, but the rest were hardened.” They had been surrounded by God’s revelation and privileges, yet many had become unable to recognise what God was doing before them.
Paul turns to Israel’s own Scriptures to explain their condition. Drawing from Deuteronomy 29:4 and Isaiah 29:10, he speaks of eyes that do not see and ears that do not hear. He then quotes Psalm 69:22–23, where a table associated with provision and blessing becomes a snare. The picture is worth reflecting on: blessings can cease to awaken gratitude when the heart repeatedly refuses God’s call.
This should make us examine our own response to God’s Word. It is possible to sit under preaching, read Scripture, receive correction, and still become less sensitive to God. Spiritual hardening can develop through ignored conviction, delayed obedience, and repeated refusal to respond when God speaks.
Acts 28:23–28 gives us a similar picture. Paul spent an entire day explaining the kingdom of God and speaking about Jesus. Some believed, while others remained unconvinced, and Paul declared that God’s salvation was being sent to the Gentiles. Yet Romans 11:11 shows that Israel’s stumbling was not the end. Their rejection became the occasion for the gospel to spread more widely, while God’s redemptive purpose toward Israel continued. This passage therefore calls us to remain responsive to God. When His Word corrects us, we should listen. When it exposes something in us, we should respond. When He calls us to obedience, we should not keep postponing our answer. The safest heart is one that remains teachable before God.
FEET AND HANDS FOR THE MESSAGE:
Pay attention to the places where God has been speaking to you repeatedly. Do not allow familiarity with His Word to replace obedience. Respond to His correction, act on what He has shown you, and keep your heart tender before Him.
PRAYER:
Lord Jesus Christ, help us to recognise the days of Your visitation. Keep our hearts tender and responsive to Your Word. Give us grace to listen, obey, and follow You before repeated resistance hardens our hearts. Amen.
THERE SHALL BE SHOWERS OF BLESSING.
SHOWERS! BLESSINGS!!
The 365 DAILY BIBLE READING
Day 288 Micah 5–7; Nahum 1 — God’s Righteous Rule, Mercy, and Deliverance.
DAILY word study: HARDENED The Greek word translated “hardened” is pōroō (πωρόω), pronounced po-ROH-oh. It carries the sense of becoming calloused, dull, or spiritually insensitive.
In Romans 11:7, Paul says that “the rest were hardened.” They had received much spiritual light, yet many had become increasingly unresponsive to what God was doing through Christ.
Hardening is not simply a lack of knowledge. It is a loss of responsiveness. A person can hear truth repeatedly and still become less willing to obey it.
Reflect on This:
Has repeated hearing made you more obedient to God, or simply more familiar with His Word?
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