but Israel, pursuing a law of righteousness, did not attain to a law of righteousness.
Truth to Learn
God does not reward obedience, he rewards faith.
Behind the Words
The word “pursuing” is diōkō, the same root word as was translated pursue in the previous verse.
“Attain” is phthano, which we talked about in the previous verse. It means “to come suddenly upon something” or “to arrive at a goal.”
Meaning Explained
In the previous verse Paul made the point that the Gentiles who do not vigorously pursue righteousness have, nonetheless, seized upon it with eagerness. He now tells us that the Israelites did vigorously pursue righteousness but they have not arrived at the goal.
So, why couldn’t the Israelites reach the goal (righteousness) they were working so hard to obtain and why did the Gentiles seize the righteousness which they weren’t pursuing? The difference is works verses faith. The Israelites tried to please God and obtain His righteousness by doing works of obedience. They tried to work their way to righteousness. However, God does not reward obedience, He rewards faith. Let me say that again, God does not reward obedience, He rewards faith.
Let’s look at an example from the Old Testament. After God led the Israelites through the wilderness and gave them the Law through Moses’ leadership, he led them into the Promised Land where they began to eliminate all the inhabitants of the land. Under Joshua’s leadership they were successful at driving the people out of the land. After Joshua’s death, however, the new generation failed to drive the remainder of the people out of the land.
On the surface, this looks like a failure of obedience. After all, God told them to do it, but they didn’t. However, if we look at it closely we will see that it was not a lack of obedience, it was a lack of faith. Here’s how it is expressed in the book of Judges:
Then the children of Israel did evil in the sight of the LORD, and served the Baals; and they forsook the LORD God of their fathers, who had brought them out of the land of Egypt; and they pursued other gods, the gods of the people who were all around them, and they bowed down to them; and they provoked the LORD to anger. (Judges 2:11,12)
God considered His relationship with the Israelites like a marriage relationship just as He considers the relationship between the church and Christ a marriage relationship. But the Israelites were unfaithful to their husband-God. God’s anger against the Israelites was because of unfaithfulness, not disobedience. That’s the point that Paul is making in today’s verse. Righteousness is not obtained by works, but by faith. Likewise, God’s favor is not obtained by obedience, but by faith.
Application
Are you still trying to please God by your good works? Or do you perform your good works out of gratitude because you believe God’s promise of salvation through the blood of Christ. Let me say it one last time, God does not reward obedience, He rewards faith!
In God's service, for His glory,
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