Paul now explains why the gospel has to be preached to the world. If the gospel is good news to the world, then the world needs to believe it, in order to believe it hear it they need to hear it. If they are to hear it someone needs to tell them, and if someone needs to tell them that person needs to be sent.
This is very relevant to us today, The mindset today is that religions should not seek to convert people of other faiths. In some countries it is even illegal to do so, in the UK it is frowned upon, but if the gospel is good news to the world, then the world needs to hear. We have an inbuilt reaction and fear against "doing evangelism", but note that Paul says the messenger needs to be sent. "Doing evangelism" should not become another "law", if it does it leads only to fruitlessness and harm. As with everything else, we need to follow the Spirit. Then things are different, and we will know what it means for the feet of those who bring good news to be beautiful. Things can be different from our misconceptions of what evangelism is all about.
The fact that not all the Jews would accept the gospel, even that most would not, was foreseen by God (Isaiah 53:1). The problem was not that they did not hear, but that they refused to believe. For Jesus went throughout Judea, He sent His disciples throughout Samaria. When Paul went to cities he went to synagogues and the Jews first (Acts18:4, 28:17). The stubbornness of the Jews was foreseen throughout the Old Testament. Moreover, God has a plan to deal with this. He will make them jealous by pouring blessings on the Gentile believers.
Romans 10;20 (quoting Isaiah 65:1) is a great verse. God was found by those who did not look for Him or ask for Him. Even though our world which seems to have so little interest in God we should not lose hope, for God loves a challenge and is in the business of springing surprises.
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