So I ask, did they stumble in order that they might fall? By no means! Rather, through their trespass salvation has come to the Gentiles, so as to make Israel jealous. Now if their trespass means riches for the world, and if their failure means riches for the Gentiles, how much more will their full inclusion mean! - Romans 11:11 –12 (ESV)

Have you ever seen one of those pictures that is made up of a bunch of miniature pictures. Each smaller picture makes up a pixel of the larger image. Depending on what medium you are viewing it in, you can zoom in and out. The big picture is made up of all these little pictures.

For I bear them witness that they have a zeal for God, but not according to knowledge. For, being ignorant of the righteousness of God, and seeking to establish their own, they did not submit to God's righteousness. For Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to everyone who believes. -- Romans 10:2 –4 (ESV)

When you think of an 'on fire' Christian what does he/she look like? Often those that are new to Christianity are not just as 'saved' but 'SAVED, SAVED!' They are busy with the disciplines, telling people about Christ, and rooting out sin in every corner of their life. We look at them and wish we could re-ignite that passion, but is that the best? Is that what Christianity is like?

So too at the present time there is a remnant, chosen by grace. But if it is by grace, it is no longer on the basis of works; otherwise grace would no longer be grace. - Romans 11:5 –6 (ESV)

Do you trust the promises of God? Do you ever fear that you might do something to screw up God's gifts to you? Maybe, He might renege. Maybe I'll cross a line from which there is no return. Maybe God will finally get fed up with my disloyalty and find someone better. Have you had any of these thoughts? I have.

You will say to me then, “Why does he still find fault? For who can resist his will?” But who are you, O man, to answer back to God? Will what is molded say to its molder, “Why have you made me like this?” -- Romans 9:19 –20 (ESV)

Job is one of the most comforting and terrifying books in the Bible. In it we see God's control over all things. We see his power to both restrain and allow hardship, difficulty, and evil. We also see the very limited human struggle of trying to make sense of it all.

How then will they call on him in whom they have not believed? And how are they to believe in him of whom they have never heard? And how are they to hear without someone preaching? And how are they to preach unless they are sent? As it is written, “How beautiful are the feet of those who preach the good news!” -- Romans 10:14 –15 (ESV)

Maybe your feet look better then mine, but I would not point to them as my most attractive feature. Paul says that feet can be beautiful, not because they are neatly groomed, polished, or accented. He calls them beautiful because of their ability to carry an important message to those who haven't heard.

But it is not as though the word of God has failed. For not all who are descended from Israel belong to Israel, and not all are children of Abraham because they are his offspring, but “Through Isaac shall your offspring be named.” -- Romans 9:6 –7 (ESV)

Struggling to understand God's purpose, plan, and predestination is not unusual. In fact I expect it. Many people over the centuries have. One of those was a British Monk named Pelagus in the 4th century. His story and objections provide us some insight not only into church history but the orthodox boundaries of the debate. In wanting to reconcile these things he denied some clear teaching of scripture and fell into heresy. It's worth some time to read his story.