The Remnant of Israel

11 I ask then: Did God reject his people? By no means!a I am an Israelite myself, a descendant of Abraham,b from the tribe of Benjamin.c 2 God did not reject his people,d whom he foreknew.e Don’t you know what Scripture says in the passage about Elijah—how he appealed to God against Israel: 3 “Lord, they have killed your prophets and torn down your altars; I am the only one left, and they are trying to kill me”a?f 4 And what was God’s answer to him? “I have reserved for myself seven thousand who have not bowed the knee to Baal.”b g 5 So too, at the present time there is a remnanth chosen by grace.i 6 And if by grace, then it cannot be based on works;j if it were, grace would no longer be grace.

7 What then? What the people of Israel sought so earnestly they did not obtain.k The elect among them did, but the others were hardened,l 8 as it is written:

“God gave them a spirit of stupor,

eyes that could not see

and ears that could not hear,m

to this very day.”c n

9 And David says:

“May their table become a snare and a trap,

a stumbling block and a retribution for them.

10 May their eyes be darkened so they cannot see,o

and their backs be bent forever.”d p