The Remnant of Israel
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 11:2
God hath not... Again, Then Paul presented himself as his first proof. He had responded by faith to Jesus Christ and had received God’s provided righteousness, and yet he was an Israelite (cf. Phlp. 3:5) and of the tribe of Benjamin. Though small, Benjamin was a significant tribe (Saul, Israel’s first king, was from Benjamin). If God could save Paul (Acts 9:1-43; 22:1-30; 26:1-32), He certainly could save other Jews (1Tim. 1:15-16). Then he positively declared, God did not reject His people (quoted from 1Sam. 12:22; Psm. 94:14), whom He foreknew (proegnō, “had a meaningful relationship with”; cf. Amos 3:2; and cf. comments on Rom. 8:29). God had chosen Israel as His covenant people from eternity past and entered into a relationship with them that will never be destroyed (cf. Jer. 31:37).
which He foreknew... Israel’s disobedience does not nullify God’s predetermined love relationship with her.
This
scripture is speaking of God withholding the autumn and spring rains
and summer dew which were necessities for the crops of Israel. The
Lord had threatened to withhold these from the land if His people
turned from Him to serve other gods. Elijah had prayed for the
drought and God answered. It lasted 3 years and six months (according
to Jas. 5:17). The drought proved that Baal, the god of the rains and
fertility, was impotent before the Lord.
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