Read Romans 9:1-5

This begins a new section in Paul’s letter in which he will deal with the place of Israel in God’s saving plan. He opens by highlighting how Israel’s heritage and legacy include being God’s children, having God’s covenants, being given God’s law, participating in worship of God, and receiving divine promises. Though many early Christians were Jews, not all Jews accepted Jesus as Messiah. This hurt Paul, who was a faithful Jew, but he still mentions many spiritual blessings belonging to the Jews. What are they? In v. 4, we read of covenants, in the plural. Read Genesis 9:8-17 and 17:1-8. With whom were these 2 covenants made? From the human side, what benefits did these covenants promise? What covenant did we read in Tuesday’s reading from Isaiah 55?

Prayer for the week

Gracious God, your generosity waters the world with goodness, and you cover creation with abundance.  Awaken in us a hunger for the food that satisfies both body and spirit, and with this food fill all the starving world; through your Son, Jesus Christ, our Savior and Lord.  Amen.