Usher in Shabbat.
Jun 20, 2025 07:30 PM Pacific Time (US and Canada)
Live fellowship on Zoom.

Then you will say, “Branches were broken off so that I might be grafted in.” That is true. They were broken off because of their unbelief, but you stand fast through faith. So do not become proud, but fear.
Romans 11:19-20 ESV

As stated regarding v17, former Gentiles aren’t added in the place of the pruned natural branches, but their pruning still enabled our grafting in, not through creating a graft site (that’s over-extending the analogy), but by creating an opportunity for Gentiles to hear and believe the Gospel. If Paul had not been rejected by one synagogue after another, would he ever have followed his true calling of being the Apostle to the Nations?

In my location, resting is extra important this week with the high heat & humidity. I am blessed with central air conditioning and a garden apartment (partially underground). We have a nice old oak that shades the east side from the morning sun, and a cottonwood on the far south that provides some filtering. Many are not so blessed. Check on the people in your life this weekend and give the critters extra water and shade. If you dont have air conditioning, try putting damp sheets up as curtains over open windows. There is quite a breeze today, so I expect this would work particularly well today. Prayers for everyone and everything that must endure the heat! Have a restful and peaceful shabbat, all.

This coming week, 22-28 June 2025 (26 Sivan-2 Tammuz 5785), the Bible reading plan covers Korach (Korah).
https://thebarkingfox.com/2025..../06/20/weekly-bible-

https://open.substack.com/pub/....silvertrumpetradio/p

This evening, at 8:30pm CDT, be sure to join us for the premiere of our NEW Home Worship Video Resource over on our YouTube channel. We hope to see you there! https://www.youtube.com/@TriumphInTruthMedia

Do not be arrogant toward the branches [of natural Israel]. If you are, remember it is not you who support the root, but the root that supports you.
Romans 11:18 ESV

Never look down on the native branches, even in their unfaithfulness. They remain chosen for a purpose, and God is eagerly awaiting their repentance so that he may restore them to the tree.

Without God’s faithfulness to the patriarchs of Israel, we would have no hope. The New Covenant that brings ultimate forgiveness and eternal salvation was only given to the houses of Israel and Judah. There is no Gentile people--no non-Israelite “church”--included.

But if some of the branches were broken off, and you, although a wild olive shoot, were grafted in among the others and now share in the nourishing root of the olive tree...
Romans 11:17 ESV

The normal process is to graft cultivated branches into a wild root stock because the wild root is hardier, more tolerant to adverse conditions, but God frequently turns the natural order on its head for spiritual purposes. The younger brother rules the elder. The second Adam takes authority over the domain of the first.

The cultivated olive root is the enduring stock into which the wild are grafted in order to survive a great change for which all wild trees are completely unprepared. An extinction event is coming, and only that one tree which has been specially prepared will survive it.