By Romans 11:1-10
I ask, then, has God rejected His people? Absolutely not! For I too am an Israelite, a descendant of Abraham, from the tribe of Benjamin. God has not rejected His people whom He foreknew. Or don’t you know what the Scripture says in the passage about Elijah — how he pleads with God against Israel?
Lord, they have killed Your prophets
and torn down Your altars.
I am the only one left,
and they are trying to take my life!
But what was God’s reply to him? I have left 7,000 men for Myself who have not bowed down to Baal. In the same way, then, there is also at the present time a remnant chosen by grace. Now if by grace, then it is not by works; otherwise grace ceases to be grace.
What then? Israel did not find what it was looking for, but the elect did find it. The rest were hardened, as it is written:
God gave them a spirit of insensitivity,
eyes that cannot see
and ears that cannot hear,
to this day.
And David says:
Let their feasting become a snare and a trap,
a pitfall and a retribution to them.
Let their eyes be darkened so they cannot see,
and their backs be bent continually.
——————-
God’s people are the elect remnant chosen by grace. He has never, nor will he reject those whom have never bowed down to Baal.
Paul knew that the Roman church would be wondering (because the gospel had gone to the gentiles) if God has rejected the Jewish people. Then he gives them and us a sufficient answer. God has always had a remnant of chosen followers who’s heart would not bow down to the gods of the nations. This remnant has been made up of all true followers of Christ from the beginning of time. After the fall, God promised to send a Deliverer who would set his people free from their slavery to sin. Every person who believed upon this promised Messiah, or is now looking back upon the Messiah that came, is part of the remnant chosen by grace.
Are you looking to Jesus the promised Savior? If you have been given eyes of faith to see him as your only hope, you are grafted into this olive vine called the Church. It is a vine that started with Adam and Eve, and continues to this day. If you have insensitivity toward the things of God, this is not a good thing. This means that God has given you eyes that can not see, and ears that can not hear. God has darkened your eyes because you have at some time bowed down to the gods of the world, the gods of your flesh, or the devil.
If you are at this time indifferent to God, repent; seek the Lord while he may be found, call upon him while he is near.
Leading Family Devotions 