Remnant of Israel – Romans 11:1-10
I ask, then, has God rejected his people? By no means! I myself am an Israelite, a descendant of Abraham, a member of the tribe of Benjamin. 2 God has not rejected his people whom he foreknew. Do you not know what the scripture says of Elijah, how he pleads with God against Israel? 3 “Lord, they have killed your prophets, they have demolished your altars; I alone am left, and they are seeking my life.” 4 But what is the divine reply to him? “I have kept for myself seven thousand who have not bowed the knee to Baal.” 5 So too at the present time there is a remnant, chosen by grace. 6 But if it is by grace, it is no longer on the basis of works, otherwise grace would no longer be grace.
7 What then? Israel failed to obtain what it was seeking. The elect obtained it, but the rest were hardened, 8 as it is written,
“God gave them a sluggish spirit,
eyes that would not see
and ears that would not hear,
down to this very day.”
9 And David says,
“Let their table become a snare and a trap,
a stumbling block and a retribution for them;
10 let their eyes be darkened so that they cannot see,
and keep their backs forever bent.”
What does the Passage Say?
V. 1-10 Paul asks another question, ‘does it means that God shut the door of salvation against the Israelite?’ By no means, Paul thinks this will happen. Paul says that even though there were times when even he feels like there is no hope, God is the one who preserves the hope for God’s people.
This was evident in the time of Elijah; Paul believes it continued in his time, and I believe there are much more God reserved for God’s will to be done.
What does this mean to us?
Paul continues to say that God’s promise to the chosen people is still valid. Even when it seems like the heart of the chosen people were harden, they seemed to forget God’s bigger plan of salvation, he still believes that God has a plan for the Israelites. I feel the same way for the church.
It might seem like the church has lost it. The church, now perceived by the world to be more selfish and judgemental, still has hope to offer to the world. We just need to go back to the basic of receiving the grace.
The Message says, “The chosen ones of God were those who let God pursue his interests in them, and as a result received his stamp of legitimacy. The ‘self-interest Israel’ became thick-skinned toward God” (v. 7 The Message).
Did Christianity, by any chance, become ‘self-interested’ instead of allowing God to let God pursue God’s interest? It goes along with this Sunday’s Message. Are we allowing God’s transforming Grace to work in our lives?
Lord, we remember the Grace that flows in our lives. We are thankful of your plan to use us. However, if we are blocking your way to be done in our lives, may you work through us and transform us. May your will be done.
In Christ Name, Amen.
What are your thoughts?
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