Romans 10:19-21 - Why did they not believe?

10:19

We now get the first hint of how God’s plan of salvation applies to Israel. This quote, Deut 32:21, comes from the Song of Moses. This is a passage of judgement on Israel for her perverseness. Paul is countering the claim that Israel did not understand and is therefore not guilty. Israel did not understand because she was hard-hearted, stiff-necked. When we chose to ignore God or to disobey Him we do not just do one thing wrong, but our hearts become a little harder. Israel was blinded by sin. So way back in Moses’ day God had said that He would make Israel envious by those who are not a nation, ie by the Gentiles. Paul will expand on this theme in the next chapter. Israel’s guilt is highlighted by the fact that a people, ie the Gentiles, who did not have the Law and all its benefits were able to see the light of the gospel.

10:20,21

This chapter closes with two quotes from Isaiah 65:1,2. Isaiah plays a big part in Paul’s theology. Isaiah “boldly” says that God was found by those who did not seek Him, ie by the Gentiles. What was now being worked out in the gospel, the rejection of Jesus by the Jews, the good news going out to the nations, and the good news being accepted by the nations, had all been foretold long ago. It was all entirely consistent with what God had revealed in the Old Testament. A corollary of this is that all that Paul will say in the next chapter will also work out. One day Israel will return to God and believe in Christ.

The final quote in this chapter re-emphasises the hardness of heart of Israel, her culpability in the matter. God gave them numerous chances, numerous opportunities, yet she refused to take them because she was disobedient and obstinate.

It has been pointed out that in chapter 9 there is emphasis on predestination, on God’s decree. In this chapter the emphasis has been on Israel’s culpability, her responsibility. Predestination and human responsibility go together, one does not exclude the other and any theology which leads to one excluding the other is a mistaken theology and is unbiblical.