Romans 11:11-24 (Quoted from the NLT)

11-12 “Did God’s people stumble beyond recovery? Of course not!  They were disobedient so God made salvation available to the Gentiles.  But he wanted his own people to become jealous and claim it for themselves. (12) Now if the Gentiles were enriched because the people of Israel turned down God’s offer for salvation, think how much greater a blessing the world will share when they finally accept it.

13-16 “I am saying all this especially for you Gentiles.  God has appointed me as an apostle to the Gentiles.  I stress this, (14) for I want somehow to make the people of Israel jealous of what you Gentiles have, so I might save some of them.  (15) For since their rejection meant that God offered salvation to the rest of the world, their acceptance will be even more wonderful.  It will be life for those who were dead. (16) An since Abraham and the other patriarchs were holy, their descendants will also be holy—just as the entire batch of dough is holy because the portion given as an offering is holy.  For if the roots of the tree be holy, then the branches will be, too.”

17-18 “But some of the branches from Abraham’s tree—some of the people of Israel—have been broken off.  And you Gentiles, who were branches from a wild olive tree, have been grafted in.  So now you also receive the blessing God has promised Abraham and his children, sharing in rich nourishment from the root of God’s special olive tree. (18) But you must not brag about being grafted into in to replace the branches that were broken off.  You are just a branch, not the root.”

19-21 “Well,’ you may say, ‘Those branches were broken off to make room for me.’ (20) Yes, but remember—those branches were broken off because they didn’t believe in Christ, and you are there because you do believe.  So don’t think highly of yourself, but fear what could happen. (21) For if God did not spare the original branches, he won’t spare you either.”

22-24 “Notice how God is both kind and severe.  He is severe towards those who are disobeyed, but kind to you if you continue to trust in his kindness. But if you stop trusting, you also will be cut off. (23) And if the people of Israel turn from unbelief, they will be grafted in again, for God has the power to graft them back into the tree. (24) You by nature, were a branch cut from a wild olive tree.  So if God was willing to do something contrary to nature by grafting you into his cultivated tree, he will be far more eager to graft the original branches back into the tree where they belong.” 

My comments: God’s people didn’t fall beyond recovery.  God wanted to make them jealous, so he made salvation available to the Gentiles.  He wanted His people to wake up and claim salvation for themselves.  God broke some of the branches of Israel off of the olive tree and grafted the Gentiles in, in their place.  But we need to be careful, because if God didn’t spare the original branches, then He won’t spare us either if we stop believing in Jesus.  God is kind to those that are obedient to Him, and severe to those that are disobedient.  If Israel wakes up and returns to God, then He will graft them back into the tree.