"God did not reject his people, whom he foreknew. Don't you know what the Scripture says in the passage about Elijah-how he appealed to 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 kill me"? And what was God's answer to him? "I have reserved for myself seven thousand who have not bowed the knee to Baal." So too, at the present time there is a remnant chosen by grace" (Romans 11:2-5)

It says in the Psalms, "For the LORD will not reject his people; he will never forsake his inheritance" ( Psalm 94:14 ). God is pleased to call us his own. He has made for himself a people comprised of sons and daughters. It's marvelous to know that we are His inheritance. He has chosen and predestined us to be a part of his family. He foreknew us and accepted us on the basis of Christ. What a glorious thing. In today's passage Paul is explaining that this true even in the midst of Israel rejecting the Messiah.

In verse 1 Paul explained that it was against God's entire nature to reject those he has previously chosen. He concluded that this was impossible. 'May it never be.' Today's passage gives more insight to this truth. Paul reflected back to the scriptures about Elijah when he was faced with a similar situation. Elijah learned an important truth about God in the midst of these circumstances.

Jezebel was seeking Elijah's life because he has just defeated over 450 prophets of Baal on Mount Carmel putting them to death by the sword. He then fled for his life because she had sworn an oath to kill him. He has just had an amazing victory with God as his backer. He spoke and acted in power and authority and proved to the entire nation that God was the God of Israel and not the "no count" Baal. But, at the threat of the queen he fled in fear. The Lord came to him and asked him what he was doing and this was his reply, "I have been very zealous for the LORD God Almighty. The Israelites have rejected your covenant, broken down your altars, and put your prophets to death with the sword. I am the only one left, and now they are trying to kill me too" ( I Kings 19:10 ). Look at the Lord's reply to Elijah, "Yet I reserve seven thousand in Israel-all whose knees have not bowed down to Baal and all whose mouths have not kissed him" ( I Kings 19:18 ). What an amazing thing to tell and encourage him during the time he was afraid. There is a small number of Israelites who have not bowed to Baal. I have reserved for myself a remnant who have remained true to my covenant. In other words, you are not the only one left.

At this time, Israel had rejected God to worship idols. But God still did not reject them. He sent his prophets to them to remind them of everything that he had done for them. He spoke to them about their future and about what he would do for them. This is how wonderful our God is. He is so patient, loving, forgiving and encouraging. Some remained, walking in his covenant and some turned away, but neither of these things changed God. He remained the same; true to His promises.

Modern day Israel has rejected Jesus, wishing to remain in the Law and in the ritualistic application of its precepts. But still, this does not change God. He does not reject those he foreknew. Now, he sends his Holy Spirit to show them the way and to reveal to them the Christ. But still he reminds us that there is a remnant chosen by grace. There is a small believing minority in Israel who has accepted God's unmerited favor and graciousness through Christ Jesus. He is telling us that we are not alone.

Paul said in Romans 9, "not all who are descendants from Israel are Israel" ( Romans 9:6 ). He went on to say that true descendants are those who belonged to the promise ( Romans 9:8 ). The promise was Christ. Through Christ, "There is neither Jew nor Greek, slave nor free, male nor female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus. If you belong to Christ, then you are Abraham's seed, and heirs according to the promise" ( Galatians 3:28-29 ). Through faith we join with the remnant of Israel that remained true to the promise and believed the message of grace. Like them, we have become heirs to the promise and have been grafted into this holy race of God's chosen people in the world today. May this truth speak to your heart and encourage you that God does not reject the people whom he foreknew. He is faithful to the promises he has spoken and watches over them to see their fulfillment ( Isaiah 55:11; Jeremiah 1:12 ), what a blessing this is!

"I ask then: Did God reject his people? By no means! I am an Israelite myself, a descendant of Abraham, from the tribe of Benjamin" (Romans 11:1)

At the start of chapter 11, Paul asks an important question given the previous two chapters, did God reject his people? Did he finally get fed up at their obstinacy and hard heartedness? Was their rejection of His Son the last straw whereby he gave up on them? Paul's answer, absolutely not, may it never be!

Paul's response to this question was an emphatic no! In fact, the Greek words he used for this statement were the strongest meaning he could apply, indicating that it was far from the truth in case anyone tried to misinterpret what he was saying. By no means, literally meant there is an entire absence of possibility that God would reject His people. The King James Bible translated it as, "God forbid". It is inconceivable because these are the people that he foreknew since the beginning of time. He marked out and appointed them from the foundation of the world to be his chosen people. So it goes against God's entire nature to even consider the possibility that he would reject them after choosing them.

The book of Samuel gives us some insight into this. "For the sake of his great name the LORD will not reject his people, because the LORD was pleased to make you his own" ( I Samuel 12:22 ). We learn two important truths through this verse. First, it was God's pleasure to create a people for himself. Secondly, God won't reject His people for the sake of His name. His name carries the weight of who he is. His name is great and greatly to be praised. In fact his name is so wonderful that is was given to Jesus to be the name above every name. If God uses His name to exalt, honor and glorify Jesus because of the completeness of his redemptive work, then his name holds incredible power. Jesus is the only name given under heaven whereby we can be saved ( Acts 4:12 ). So for the sake of it, he will never reject Israel or those he chooses.

Paul uses his own testimony to validate his statement." I am an Israelite myself, a descendant of Abraham, from the tribe of Benjamin" ( Romans 11:1 ). Paul described himself as a Hebrew of Hebrews ( Philippians 3:5 ). He knew first hand that God did not reject his people because he had accepted the message of grace and he saw multitudes of people, both Jews and Gentiles, come to the Lord when he preached. Paul was speaking from firsthand knowledge that God still called the Jews. Jesus said that he was sent to the lost sheep of Israel first and foremost ( Matthew 15:24 ). This testified to the fact "that God's gifts and calls are irrevocable" ( Romans 11:29 ).

The Jews must come to God the same way we do, through faith in Jesus. This has not changed. In fact they always looked forward to the Messiah for salvation. This was God's promise to Israel, it had nothing to do with the Law which came 430 years later. ( Galatians 3:17-18 ). David also saw that God would justify them apart from works and this is why he said, "Blessed is he whose transgressions are forgiven, whose sins are covered. Blessed is the man whose sin the LORD does not count against him and in whose spirit is no deceit" ( Psalm 32:11-2; Romans 4:6-8 ). David saw the righteousness that came through Christ and called those who lived after the time of Jesus blessed, happy and to be envied.  This promise was opened to the Gentiles as well, but it came through Israel, in the form of God's first born son, that the entire world would be blessed through them.

It is marvelous to know that God does not change his mind ( James 1:17 ). Those he has called he will not forsake. His salvation is open to all and to all who receive him, he gives them the right to be called children of God ( John 1:12 ). And we can rest assured that nothing can separate us from His love because of what Christ Jesus did for us ( Romans 9:38-39 ). Today, I pray that this message will settle in your heart and provide you assurance through Christ Jesus our Lord, amen!