Rom 11:1 I say then, Hath God cast away his people? God forbid. For I also am an Israelite, of the seed of Abraham,
of the tribe of Benjamin.
Rom 11:2 God hath not cast away his people which he foreknew. Wot ye not what the scripture saith of Elias? how he maketh intercession to God against Israel, saying,
Rom 11:3 Lord, they have killed thy prophets, and digged down thine altars; and I am left alone, and they seek my life.
Rom 11:4 But what saith the answer of God unto him? I have reserved to myself seven thousand men, who have not bowed the knee to
the image of Baal.
Rom 11:5 Even so then at this present time also there is a remnant according to the election of grace.
Rom 11:6 And if by grace, then
is it no more of works: otherwise grace is no more grace. But if
it be of works, then is it no more grace: otherwise work is no more work.
You think the division between Jews and Gentiles is rough.. the one going on within the Jewish community itself is even tougher.
You have those that see Christ as Saviour and those who are still waiting for him to arrive.
The Evening and the Morning. The ones still sleeping and the ones that are awake.
So what is Paul talking about??
God hasn't forsaken Israel. If he had he never would have chosen Paul to bring the Gospel to the world.
Israel look, killed the prophets, took down God's altars or pace of worship.. (which is the altar in yourself.. your closet, so to speak) and yet God left one to carry the torch..
Like Paul. And Paul gives a pretty good account how they tried to wipe him out:
2Co 11:22
Are they Hebrews? so
am I. Are they Israelites? so
am I. Are they the seed of Abraham? so
am I.
Are they ministers of Christ? (I speak as a fool ) I
am more; in labours more abundant, in stripes above measure, in prisons more frequent, in deaths oft.
Of the Jews five times received I forty
stripes save one.
Thrice was I beaten with rods, once was I stoned, thrice I suffered shipwreck, a night and a day I have been in the deep;
In journeyings often,
in perils of waters,
in perils of robbers,
in perils by
mine own countrymen,
in perils by the heathen,
in perils in the city,
in perils in the wilderness,
in perils in the sea,
in perils among false brethren;
In weariness and painfulness, in watchings often, in hunger and thirst, in fastings often, in cold and nakedness.
Beside those things that are without, that which cometh upon me daily, the care of all the churches.
This one is another interesting correlation:
Mat 17:10
And his disciples asked him, saying, Why then say the scribes that Elias must first come?
And Jesus answered and said unto them, Elias truly shall first come, and restore all things.
But I say unto you, That Elias is come already, and they knew him not, but have done unto him whatsoever they listed. Likewise shall also the Son of man suffer of them.
Then the disciples understood that he spake unto them of John the Baptist.
The disciples understood that Jesus spoke of John the Baptist... (hello again John)
But at that time they didn't know Paul.
And what I am hearing as I write this.. is that Paul is the "other" comforter that was to come and restore all things.
We're still in the process of being restored...
So many things have to happen first.
We have to put down our weapons against each other and pick up the plowshares and work together in the garden, in the field.. right here on earth.
And until the "Gentiles" stop treading on the "Jews", and the "Jews" recognize Jesus as Savior.. it's going to be one heck of a rocky road with lots of obstacles.
7000 men who have not bowed the knee to the image of Baal.
What is that?
Hugs