Romans 11:1-10 The remnant – the true ministers of grace

1 I say then, God has not rejected His people, has He? May it never be! For I too am an Israelite, a descendant of Abraham, of the tribe of Benjamin. 2 God has not rejected His people whom He foreknew. Or do you not know what the Scripture says in the passage about Elijah, how he pleads with God against Israel? 3 “Lord, they have killed Your prophets, they have torn down Your altars, and I alone am left, and they are seeking my life.” 4 But what is the divine response to him? “I have kept for Myself seven thousand men who have not bowed the knee to Baal.” 5 In the same way then, there has also come to be at the present time a remnant according to God’s gracious choice. 6 But if it is by grace, it is no longer on the basis of works, otherwise grace is no longer grace.
 7 What then? What Israel is seeking, it has not obtained, but those who were chosen obtained it, and the rest were hardened; 8 just as it is written,
 “God gave them A spirit of stupor, 
Eyes to see not and ears to hear not,
 Down to this very day.”
 9 And David says,
 “Let their table become A snare and A trap,
 And A stumbling block and A retribution to them.
 10 “Let their eyes be darkened to see not,
 And bend their backs forever.” Romans 11:1-10

Background

Throughout history, it is always a remnant that moves the majority. You may be very different in the way you make decisions, insisting on a certain principle that may seem trivial or even farcical for most people. It is a great privilege to be different from the masses, it means that God wants to use you to restore truth and the fear of God in the community.

Israel suffered in the hands of foreign nations because they rejected the ways of God. However, Israel’s plight and suffering does not mean that God has rejected Israel. God’s invitation to enter His Kingdom remains open despite Israel’s continual rebellion. God’s plan to restore Israel involves a remnant that opposed the mentality of the majority and remained faithful to God. Israel did not succeed in experiencing God’s blessings and salvation because they would not submit themselves to God’s rule and trust Him fully. They listen to messages that avoid their sinful attitudes that blind their eyes. God’s plan is to raise up a remnant who will become the true ministers of grace to restore the nations back to Him.

Observation

1 I say then, God has not rejected His people, has He? May it never be! For I too am an Israelite, a descendant of Abraham, of the tribe of Benjamin. 2 God has not rejected His people whom He foreknew. Or do you not know what the Scripture says in the passage about Elijah, how he pleads with God against Israel? 3 “Lord, they have killed Your prophets, they have torn down Your altars, and I alone am left, and they are seeking my life.”

It seems that God’s favor has turned against Israel and towards other nations. It seems that Israel has lost its status as a people that belongs to God. Paul assures them that God has not rejected His people whom He knew intimately and affectionately: people whom He foreknew (knew intimately). For God’s love towards His children is everlasting despite their continual rejection of God’s rule over them. Paul raises an example where Elijah pleads with God to punish and destroy Israel because of the severity of their rebellion. Not only did they tear down the places of worship, they seek out the prophets of God and killed them.

4 But what is the divine response to him? “I have kept for Myself seven thousand men who have not bowed the knee to Baal.” 5 In the same way then, there has also come to be at the present time a remnant according to God’s gracious choice. 6 But if it is by grace, it is no longer on the basis of works, otherwise grace is no longer grace.

Despite the evil, God did not plan on destroying Israel, but had a plan to restore them through the ministry of a remnant. God’s reply to Elijah is that he has kept safe 7000 devout men who would not follow the steps of the majority. They are chosen by God to continue the effort to turn Israel back to Him. The ministry of a faithful and uncompromising remnant is the ministry of God’s grace. God’s grace is manifested in two ways: in keeping the remnant from trials that they could not bear, and at same time He imputes His grace to strengthen them for the ministry of restoration. The remnant’s resolve to stand firm in the face of great apostasy and tribulation is not derived from man’s natural ability but from God’s intervention: But if it is by grace, it is no longer on the basis of works, otherwise grace is no longer grace. The existence of the remnant is the evidence of God’s grace in action; it is evidence for the God’s future restoration for the nation.

7 What then? What Israel is seeking, it has not obtained, but those who were chosen obtained it, and the rest were hardened; 8 just as it is written,
“God gave them A spirit of stupor,
 Eyes to see not and ears to hear not,
Down to this very day.”
 9 And David says,
 “Let their table become A snare and A trap,
And A stumbling block and A retribution to them.
 10 “Let their eyes be darkened to see not,
 And bend their backs forever.”


What Israel has been seeking is salvation, freedom from captivity and prosperity, but they could not obtain it. The reason being that their hearts do not desire God as their Lord and Master ; they were torn between pleasures of darkness and the purity of Light. However, the chosen (remnant) obtained salvation because their hearts are receptive towards the rule of God in their lives.

As the people turn away from God, they lose the ability to discern with clarity and wisdom: “God gave them A spirit of stupor. Eyes to see not and ears to hear not.” God did not blind their eyes and stop their ears per se. But rather God left them to their stupidity and blindness resulting in their utter destruction and retribution.

Truth

1.    When God turns His focus onto others to bless them, it does not mean He has rejected you. You should continue to understand what God requires of you and to be faithful to the tasks at hand. Humble yourself and try to understand what are the issues that has been hindering you. The Israelites felt that God has abandoned them when other nations who had no relationship with Him start prospering. Some of these nations attacked Israel and enslaved them. In spite of these, Israel did not heed the call of the prophets to repent but killed them.

2.    Without God’s grace, no one can stand in the face of deception and fleshly temptation. Hence, a believer must never depend on himself or on his spiritual disciplines of prayer, of the reading of the word and of fasting but on His Spirit. The tendency is for man to be prideful and fall into complacency that results in total failure. Man has nothing inside of him that is usable against the powers of darkness except God’s Spirit; his moral determination crumbles at the face of temptations. “Therefore let him who thinks he stands take heed that he does not fall.” 1 Corinthians 10:12.

3.    The presence of an uncompromising remnant of believers in the midst of a generation of permissive “hyper grace” churchgoers is the evidence of God’s grace upon the nation. The remnant consists of those who do not seek after material blessings but in accomplishing the will of God on the earth. History tells us that the majority of people seek after blessings and personal gain, but only a remnant is wholly after God. The majority seeks to put personal benefit over the benefit of the organization or community. The remnant seeks to do what is right and for the benefit of all despite personal inconveniences. The majority selectively read bible passages that secure their personal interests. But the remnant scours the bible and reads every word to understand the interests of God. Are you the majority or are you the remnant? Are you a follower of the masses or one that carefully considers the values systems the masses are following? Are you one that follows the passion of your heart or do you hold true to principles? Are you a follower of what feels right or what is right?

4.    If God is not Lord of every area of your life, you will start to lose clarity and the ability to discern. Especially in the area of investment and judgment of character, many eyes were blinded by the prospect of gain. Even people of seemingly high intelligence were caught off guard when stray from the path of godly principles and losing their assets over night. Do you make investment decisions based on opportunity or purpose? Do you make decisions based pragmatism and proven solutions or by the principles of God?

Application

1.    Make sure to include in your quiet time a time to receive God’s grace to stand firm during challenges. Stay connected with God until you feel His peace and assurance ringing in your heart.

2.    Consider what the masses are after today in the Christian community. What do you think are the dangers that are facing the Christian community and the nation at this time?

Dear Lord, I ask you for the grace to stand firm in your love and in your principles and never give up. As I acknowledge you as Lord of all areas of my life, help me discern the way of righteousness and not to seek easy solutions for my problems. Use me to be light and wisdom to the people around me to show them the way of righteousness. In Jesus’ name I pray. Amen.