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The period of longsuffering covered by the Acts of the Apostles was in many ways
parallel with the time when Isaiah prophesied. It will be remembered how he opened his
prophecy with words of solemn denunciation, showing that Israel had become "a sinful
nation, a people laden with iniquity, a seed of evil doers." Why was it that the judgment
did not fall at once? Isaiah 1: 5-6 shows how utterly corrupt the nation was, verses 7 and
8 show desolation and defection had already begun their chastening yet unheeded course.
The answer to the question of long delayed punishment is found in verse 9, the verse
quoted by the apostle in Rom. 9: A very small remnant saved the situation. Sodom was
destroyed because not even ten righteous ones could be found in it. Israel approximated
to Sodom in its sin, but there was by grace a remnant reserved unto the Lord, whose
presence kept back the threatened wrath to come.
Rom. 10: 21 shows the attitude of the Lord and the character of the people during the
period of the Acts. "All day long I have stretched forth My hands unto a disobedient and
gain-saying people." Yet, just as the remnant prevented the nation at that time from
being exactly parallel to Sodom, so chapter 11: immediately follows this quotation
(Rom. 10: 21) by again showing us that the people as a people were spared by reason of
the elect remnant. "I say, therefore, hath God cast away His people"? This is the point at
issue, which was answered in the affirmative by the brother quoted in the letter above.
The Word of God answers the question in the negative, and supplies the reason--
the remnant:--
"Hath God cast away His people? Let not my reasoning become so (me genoito), for
I also am an Israelite. . . . God hath not cast away His people whom He foreknew"
(Rom. 11: 1, 2).
Many stop here to argue over the meaning of "foreknew." Scripture goes on to supply
us with a concrete example which is much better:--
"Or know ye not what the scripture says in (the account of) Elijah, when he interceded
with God against Israel? Lord, Thy prophets have they slain, Thine altars have they
overthrown, and I am left alone, and they are seeking my life" (Rom. 11: 2, 3).
Elijah reckoned, as others have reckoned since, without the Lord:--
"But what saith the answer of God to Him? I have left me seven thousand men who
indeed have not bowed a knee unto Baal" (Rom. 11: 4).
Elijah was therefore mistaken in supposing that even in that fearful period of Israel's
history the end of the nation had come. The words which follow emphasize the same
truth upon us with regard to the Pentecostal period. Up to the time of writing Rom. 11:
Israel had not been "cast away," the reason being the same as in Isaiah 1: and in
I Kings 19: We do not give it in our own words, for the whole argument, question,
illustration and answer are here before us:--
"Even so (thus, in like manner) in the present season also there is a remnant according
to an election of grace" (Rom. 11: 5).
This elect remnant is prominent throughout the Acts, and is contrasted with the