Romans 11:4, commentary and pictures

When Elijah pleaded against Israel because they had killed the prophets and torn down the altars and left him alone and sought his life, God answered that He had kept for Himself seven thousand men who had refused to worship Baal. Their preservation proves He had not rejected Israel, even though as a nation they stumbled and fell and rejected His Son, and their failure did not make it impossible for them to rise again. As in Elijah's day, so in Paul's day there was a remnant chosen by grace, seen in the faithful men and women who received John's message, studied the prophecies anew, recognized Jesus as the promised Messiah, and formed the early Christian church. God still keeps many thousands in the world who have not joined in false worship, including honest, God-fearing souls even inside the fallen churches whom He will add to His people to warn the world when the gospel is brought to them in simplicity under the Holy Spirit. Therefore a great work remains to be done both for the Jewish people, who must be given every opportunity to come to the light, and for the loyal ones hidden in the crowded cities, who must be sought out with earnest gospel effort and not neglected.

Elijah's Seven Thousand Preserved

When Elijah made intercession against Israel, his charge was that they had killed God's prophets and dug down His altars, and had left him alone, and were seeking his life. The answer of God to him was that He had reserved to Himself seven thousand men who had not bowed the knee to Baal. Those seven thousand were a faithful remnant preserved by God who refused to worship Baal. Their preservation shows that not all in Israel had joined in false worship.

They illustrate that faithful believers may remain hidden until a time of testing reveals them. Those who have not received as much light as others can still possess genuine Christian character. Not bowing the knee means refusing false worship and trusting one's soul to Christ since accepting Him, and He will clothe such ones with His righteousness.

Israel Not Cast Away

God has not rejected or cast away Israel, and the Jews are not to be despised. As a nation Israel stumbled and fell and rejected His Son, yet their failure as a nation did not make it impossible for them to rise again. As in Elijah's time He preserved a faithful remnant of seven thousand who had not worshiped Baal, so even after Israel rejected Jesus a remnant remained.

Even at Paul's present time also there is a remnant according to the election of grace, chosen by grace. Notwithstanding Israel's failure, there remained among them a goodly remnant who should be saved. This was seen at the Saviour's advent in faithful men and women who received the message of John the Baptist with gladness, studied anew the prophecies concerning the Messiah, recognized Jesus of Nazareth as the one for whose advent they had been longing, and composed the early Christian church when it was founded.

God still reserves faithful ones and mighty men among the Jews who will proclaim the truth with power. Many of the seed of Israel may be grafted into Christ Jesus as the true stock. The chapter to which the verse belongs calls for a great work still to be done for the Jewish people, which must be carried out with special wisdom and must not be ignored.

The Jews are to be given every opportunity to come to the light and of coming to the light. God's people must have God's wisdom for this work, and in all wisdom and righteousness they must clear the King's highway. Jews who accept Christ, though cut off from their people, are to be given a place of refuge where they learn to work for their own people.

Loyal Ones Still Reserved

God still keeps many thousands in the world who have stayed loyal to Him instead of joining in false worship. Not all in the world are lawless and sinful, for there are God-fearing, honest-hearted men and women even in the fallen churches. Among them are men of ability and influence whom He will add to His people to warn the world. They are honest in heart, gasping for a breath of life from heaven, and will recognize the gospel when it is brought to them in the beauty and simplicity of God's word, so the work must be carried forward with power under the baptism of the Holy Spirit.

In Greater New York He has many precious loyal souls who refuse false worship and have not bowed the knee to Baal. Beside them are others who have followed false worship and have worshiped Baal ignorantly through error. The light of truth is to shine upon these ignorant ones so that they may see Christ as the Way, the Truth, and the Life. For this reason the work there must be carried forward in humility and in the simplicity of the gospel of Christ.

In Geelong He has reserved a people for Himself who are precious in His sight and have not knowingly bowed the knee to Baal, though they may have done so ignorantly. Workers should keep at work there despite a hard fight against the influence of ministers, because the Lord will give the victory in reaching them. Even where gospel work has little success and prejudice stands against the truth, as in Wellington He still reserves a people who have not knowingly bowed to Baal. Simple firm faith is needed that He will remove the existing prejudice and give victory to His truth through freely scattering two-, four-, and six-page leaflets and tracts like autumn leaves as advocates of truth after every discourse.

He has many in the crowded cities who have not yielded to false worship and thousands in New York who have not bowed to Baal. They are found among people of all nationalities and are ripe for the harvest, and will accept the truth when earnest effort is put forth for them. They must be sought out by teachers at work in all parts of the city with the glad tidings of the gospel, so the teeming centers must not be neglected. The Lord has many thousands in the cities who have never bowed the knee to Baal and who are to be warned by ministers and physicians using their God-given ability. Angels of heaven go before such laborers to make an impression on the hearts of the people for whom they labor, and when won these souls are specially qualified to carry the message to their own countrymen, so workers should not fail nor be discouraged.