https://www.desiringgod.org/messages/gods-word-stands-part-1
'But it is not as though the word of God has failed. For they are not all Israel who are descended from Israel; nor are they all children because they are Abraham’s descendants, but: “Through Isaac your descendants will be named.”'
I know. It seems obvious now. I grew up in church, but I started thinking when I saw yard signs that said 'I stand with Israel'. I wondered if we thought they went to heaven just because they were God's chosen people. I thought to myself "That's weird. I was taught there's only one way to heaven (Jesus)." Anyway, I started reading the Bible for myself.
6 But it is not as though the word of God has failed. For not all who are descended from Israel belong to Israel, 7 and not all are children of Abraham because they are his offspring, but “Through Isaac shall your offspring be named.” 8 This means that it is not the children of the flesh who are the children of God, but the children of the promise are counted as offspring. Romans 9:6-8
I used to think this idea was crazy. But I encountered a type of parasitic worm in a fish I was cleaning and looked up freshwater fish parasites. I learned that one type of worm that infects fish cause the fish to swim closer to the water's surface. This causes the fish to be eaten by a bird and the parasite can then finish it's lifecycle in a bird. I did not realize parasites can control a hosts behavior.
Absolutely