We concluded yesterday with Paul telling us that Israel is going to turn to Christ. In his day this must have looked very unlikely by man's standards. But God will accomplish everything He intends to accomplish in regard to Israel, so even though Paul doesn't understand when and how this will happen, he praises the Lord for it.
"Oh, the depth of the riches of the wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable His judgments, and His paths beyond tracing out!" (Romans 11:33) Paul's human mind can't figure out how God is going to do all that He says He's going to do, but he believes it. All he can do is praise the brilliance of a mind that is so far above our minds.
Next he quotes the prophet Isaiah, "Who has known the mind of the Lord? Or who has been His counselor?" (Romans 11:34) This quote is from Isaiah 40, a chapter in which God instructs the prophet to comfort His people. God makes some beautiful promises to Israel in this chapter, and Isaiah himself probably didn't understand how God was going to make these things come about, but he believed.
Paul also quotes from Chapter 41 of the book of Job, "Who has ever given to God, that God should repay them?" (Romans 11:35) These are the words the Lord spoke to Job, reminding him that God doesn't need man---man needs God. We don't earn His grace and love and mercy; He freely gives us these things because of who He is.
"For from Him and through Him and for Him are all things. To Him be the glory forever! Amen." (Romans 11:36) Everything came into existence because He wanted it to come into existence. Everything continues to exist because He wants it to exist. He offers mercy because He wants to offer mercy.
And because we have a God who offers us mercy we don't deserve, what should our attitude be? "Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God's mercy, to offer your bodies a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God---this is your true and proper worship. Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is---His good, pleasing and perfect will." (Romans 12:1-2) Because Christ died for us, we are to live for Him.
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