The Remnant and the Rest

I ask, then, has God rejected his people? By no means! For 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 appeals to God against Israel? 3 “Lord, they have killed your prophets, they have demolished your altars, and I alone am left, and they seek my life.” 4 But what is God's reply to him? “I have kept for myself seven thousand men 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 spirit of stupor,
    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 bend their backs forever.”

Paul is winding down his long line of thought about the people of Israel, who had by and large rejected their Messiah.  He has shown that he, and the prophets, and most of all God, had persistently sought to bring them to repentance and faith throughout their history. God had chosen them, but many chose to reject Him.  But just like with Elijah, Paul came to realize that there were many, like himself, who were a remnant, who did respond to God's call.  God did not make people respond. He offers His gift freely, by grace.  It is another indicator of His consistent character, and evidence that He is not guilty in man's rejection of His salvation - man is without excuse.  In a sense, Israel had more "evidence" which should make them willing to respond - more than enough evidence. So do we.